CABINET OFFICE

Civil Service (Recruitment)

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what action he is taking to increase (a) graduate recruits, (b) recruits from the private sector and (c) recruits from the voluntary sector into the senior civil service; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The Civil Service is committed to ensuring that it has the right skills and experience at all levels. The service does this both by developing its own staff and by bringing in talent from outside the service including the private and voluntary sectors. In 2001–02 there were 200 posts at SCS level filled by open competition, up from 107 in 1998. Of these 77 (39 per cent.) were filled by civil servants, 86 (43 per cent.) from the broader public sector and 37 (18 per cent.) from the private sector. In addition, the service makes use of expertise from the private and voluntary sector through a programme of interchange, including at SCS level.
	The service does not target graduates specifically for recruitment into the senior civil service since we are looking for those who have demonstrated the relevant skills and experience for the particular job. However, graduate recruitment exercises are run at lower levels of the service, both through individual Departments' schemes and the centrally-run fast stream graduate trainee scheme.

TREASURY

Customs (Northern Ireland)

Roy Beggs: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Customs and Excise in Northern Ireland has received any additional Government funding since 1 April 2002.

John Healey: Since 1April 2002 additional funding has been made available to Customs to further enhance their efforts in Northern Ireland to help tackle oils fraud and to assure compliance with a range of other taxes including landfill tax, aggregates levy and the climate change levy.

United Kingdom GDP

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the total UK GDP was constituted by (a) business-to-business transactions and (b) business-to-consumer transactions in (i) 2000, (ii) 2001 and (iii) 2002.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 11 February 2003
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from L. Cook to Mr. Jonathon Djanogly, dated 13 February 2003
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning what percentage of total UK GDP was constituted by (a) business-to business transactions and (b) business-to-consumer transactions in (i) 2000, (ii) 2001 and (iii) 2002. (97236)
	The National Accounts do not separately identify business-to-business transactions or business-to-consumer transactions.
	In the National Accounts only business-to-business transactions on capital items are recorded in GDP. The concept that measures this in the National Accounts is business investment.
	Business-to-business transactions, non capital items or intermediate expenditure as it is defined in National Accounts, do not add to GDP as the expenditure and incomes in the buying and selling industries cancel out. The ONS publishes estimates of total intermediate expenditure for the corporate sector, the latest figure available is for 2000.
	The table below summarises the available data. Figures are expressed in billion at current prices or as percentages. First estimates for 2002 will be published on 26 February 2003.
	
		
			  1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Gross Domestic Product (billion) 902.5 950.4 990.9 
			 Business Investment (billion) 108.2 109.8 112.5 
			 Business Investment as a proportion of GDP (%) 12.0 11.6 11.3 
			 Household expenditure (billion) 569.5 603.6 630.8 
			 Household expenditure as a proportion of GDP (%) 63.1 63.5 63.7 
			 Intermediate expenditure by the corporate sector (billion) 683.5 721.2 Notavailable

Departmental Consultations

Tim Yeo: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list consultations his Department has conducted since 1997; and when each consultation (a) opened and (b) closed.

Ruth Kelly: The Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultation applies to all formal national public consultation documents issued by Departments from 1 January 2001. From that date, full details of consultations conducted by HM Treasury are published on our public website, www.hm-treasury.gov.uk. Our website also lists consultations issued between May and December 2000. A list of consultations from 16 May 2000 to 5 February 2003, the dates launched and the closing dates are given below. Prior to May 2000 the information requested is not available.
	
		
			 Consultation subject Launch date Closing date 
		
		
			 Proposed product specifications for Sandler "stakeholder" products. 5 February 2003 2 May 2003 
			 Proposed revision of the Money Laundering Regulations 1993 to 2001 15 November 2002 14 February 2003 
			 Simplifying the taxation of pensions: increasing choice and flexibility for all 17 December 2002 11 April 2003 
			 Transfer of Audit Responsibility for the Special Health Authorities from the Audit Commission to the Comptroller and Auditor General 10 December 2002 4 February 2003 
			
			 Regulating Insurance Mediation 21 October 2002 31 January 2003 
			 Implementation of the Insurers Reorganisation and Widing-Up Directive 15 November 2002 31 January 2003 
			 Proposed sanctions for breach of the Regulation on Cross-Border payment in Euro 17 September 2002 17 December 2002 
			 Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive amending Council Directive 91/308/EEC of 10 June 1991 on prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering 29 September 1999 31 December 2002 
			 Modernising the arrangements for registration and transfer of British Government Stock 1 Novembwe 2002 24 January 2003 
			 Modernising the settlement of Money Market Instruments 13 September 2002 6 November 2002 
			 Beneficial Ownership of Unlisted Companies 23 July 2002 14 November 2002 
			 Reform of Corporation Tax Consultation 5 September 2002 29 October 2002 
			 Increased Statutory Powers for the Comptroller and the Auditor General (C&AG) 1 August 2002 24 October 2002 
			 The Green Book: Appraisal and Evaluation in Central Government 24 July 2002 18 October 2002 
			 Economic instruments to improve household energy efficiency 16 July 2002 8 October 2002 
			 Implementing the Fourth Motor Insurance Directive 24 April 2002 17 July 2002 
			 Possible Changes to the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme 17 April 2002 17 June 2002 
			 Implementation of the E-Commerce Directive in Financial Services 7 March 2002 2 May 2002 
			 Regulating Mortgages 28 February 2002 30 April 2002 
			 Insider Dealing (Securities and Regulated markets) (Amendment) Order 200 25 February 2002 19 April 2002 
			 Delivering Saving and Assets 27 November 2001 8 February 2002 
			 Reforming Motorcycle Vehicle Excise Duty 27 November 2001 8 February 2002 
			 Implementation of the E-Commerce Directive in Financial Services 14 December 2001 8 February 2002 
			 Modernising the Taxation of the Haulage Industry 27 November 2001 8 February 2002 
			 Promoting Sport in the Community 30 November 2001 1 February 2002 
			 Financial Services and Markets Act 2000: Administration Orders for Insurers 5 November 2001 29 January 2002 
			 Wanless Report: Securing our Future Health 27 November 2001 22 January 2002 
			 Designs for Innovation 4 December 2001 18 January 2002 
			 Changes to Credit Unions Legislation 15 October 2001 18 January 2002 
			 Financial Services and Markets Act 2000: Communications by Actuaries Regulations 2001 17 October 2001 9 January 2002 
			 Implementation of the Electronic Money Directive 16 October 2001 8 January 2002 
			 Protection of the Euro against Counterfeiting Regulations 2001 15 October 2001 26 November 2001 
			 Regulatory Regime for Bureaux de Change, Money Transmission Agents and Cheque Cashers (Money Service Business) 15 October 2001 5 November 2001 
			 Consultative Documents: proposal on the Statute for a European Co-operative Society 27 July 2001 31 October 2001 
			 Domestic and International Initiatives Concerning Conflict of Law Inssues Relating to Securities 18 July 2001 17 October 2001 
			 Review of the Supply of Scientists and Engineers: Key Issues Consultation Paper (Sir Gareth Robert's Review) 21 June 2001 31 July 2001 
			 New Proposals to Increase Saving and Asset Ownership for all 27 April 2001 31 July 2001 
			 Enterprising communities: A tax incentive for community investment A Consultation document 1 March 2001 2 July 2001 
			 Green Technology Challenge: Consultation Document 25 July 2001 28 September 2001 
			 Large Business Taxation: The Government's Strategy and Corporate Tax Reforms 19 July 2001 1 October 2001 
			 Review of Medium and Long-term Retail Savings 30 February 2001 11 May 2001 
			 Small Business must improve its Investment Readiness—Small Business Service 2 April 2001 11 May 2001 
			 Standards for Retail Financial Services 30 January 2001 30 April 2001 
			 Long Term Care Insurance 21 December 2000 30 March 2001 
			 Competition in Payment Systems 21 December 2000 20 March 2001 
			 Disclosure of Confidential Information Rgulations 2001 2 April 2001 25 May 2001 
			 Mutual Societies Order 2 April 2001 25 May 2001 
			 Control of Business Transfers (Requirements on Applicants) Regulations 2001 2 April 2001 25 May 2001 
			 The Transition to the New Ombudsman Scheme and the Investigation of Complaints against the Financial Services Authority 2 April 2001 25 May 2001 
			 The Transition to the New Compensation Scheme 2 April 2001 25 May 2001 
			 Rights of Action 7 December 2000 2 February 2001 
			 Disclosure of Information by Prescribed Persons Regulations 2001 7 December 2000 2 February 2001 
			 Service of Notices 7 December 2000 2 February 2001 
			 Market Abuse: Prescribed Markets and Qualifying Investments Order 7 December 2000 2 February 2001 
			 Recognition Requirements for Investment Exchanges and Clearing Houses 7 December 2000 2 February 2000 
			 Regulated Activities—Second Consultation 26 October 2000 20 December 2000 
			 Financial Promotion—Third Consultation 26 October 2000 20 December 2000 
			 The Open Ended Investment Companies (Companies with Variable Capital) Regulations 28 January 2000 30 April 2000 
			 Regulating Mortgages 26 October 2000 20 December 2001 
			 Security for Occupational Pensions, Consultation Document 14 September 2000 31 January 2001 
			 Consultation on the objectives of the Sustainability Fund under the Aggregates Levy Package 25 August 2000 29 September 2000 
			 Individual Pension Accounts 11 July 2000 31 August 2000 
			 The Myners Review of Institutional Investment for HM Treasury 16 May 2000 14 July 2000

Duty Diversion Fraud

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many convictions were secured in cases relating to diversion fraud between 1993 and 2002; and how many of these convictions are considered unsafe because of non-disclosure of relevant material at trial by customs officers.

John Healey: HM customs and excise does not collate figures for convictions for diversion frauds separately from other prosecutions, and therefore these figures are not readily available. In relation to diversions of goods that originated from London City Bond between 1995 and 1998 during the use of the informants there, I refer to my answers to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien) on 23 January 2003, Official Report, columns 455–457W).

Gold Reserves

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the investments that have been made since 6 July 1999 with the proceeds from sales of gold reserves; and what the value was on 10 February of those investments.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 11 February 2003
	The proceeds from the sale of part of the United Kingdom's gold holdings, between 6 July 1999 and 6 March 2002, were invested in interest-bearing foreign currency assets in broadly the same proportion as currently held in the net foreign currency reserves (40 per cent. dollars; 40 per cent. euros; 20 per cent. yen). Further information on the investment policy for the foreign currency reserves is detailed in the Exchange Equalisation Account Financial Accounts 2001–02 published on 16 January 2003 (HC 258 Session 2002–03).
	Details of the currency breakdown of the United Kingdom's foreign currency reserves are published quarterly, with a lag of two months, on the Bank of England's website-bankofengland.co.uk. The latest data available are for the end September 2002.

Gold Reserves

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice he took on investing the proceeds of sale of the gold reserves; and if he will publish that advice.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 11 February 2003
	The investment policy for the net foreign currency reserves is detailed in the Exchange Equalisation Account Financial Accounts 2001–02 published on 16 January 2003 (HC 258 Session 2002–03). Prior to the decision in 1999 to restructure the reserves portfolio the Bank of England provided advice on the portfolio risks associated with gold and other assets. These portfolio risk issues, and the broader rationale for the restructuring of the reserves portfolio, are discussed in HM Treasury's "Review of the Sale of Part of the UK Gold Reserves" (October 2002)-copies of this document have been placed in the House of Commons Library and it is also available on the Treasury's website-http://www. hm-treasury.gov.uk/media//9EFEF/GoldReserves.PDF.

Income Tax

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue loss of (a) extending the basic income tax rate bracket to individuals with an annual income of (i) £38,000, (ii) £39,000, (iii) £40,000, (iv) £41,000, (v) £42,000, (vi) £43,000, (vii) £44,000, (viii) £45,000, (ix) £46,000, (x) £47,000, (xi) £48,000, (xii) £49,000 and (xiii) £50,000 and (b) having a starting income tax rate bracket of (i) £0-£2,500, (ii) £0-£3,000, (iii) £0-£3,500, (iv) £0-£4,000, (v) £0-£4,500 and (vi) £0-£5,000.

Dawn Primarolo: The full year revenue loss from making the changes in 2003–04 is set out in the table.
	
		£ billion
		
			  Starting rate limit on taxable incomes 
			 Basic rate limit on taxable incomes 2,500 3,000 3,500 4,000 4,500 5,000 
		
		
			 38,000 -5.4 -7.0 -8.5 -9.9 -11.3 -12.6 
			 39,000 -5.8 -7.4 -8.9 -10.3 -11.7 -13.0 
			 40,000 -6.2 -7.7 -9.2 -10.7 -12.1 -13.4 
			 41,000 -6.6 -8.1 -9.6 -11.0 -12.4 -13.8 
			 42,000 -6.9 -8.4 -9.9 -11.4 -12.8 -14.1 
			 43,000 -7.2 -8.8 -10.2 -11.7 -13.1 -14.4 
			 44,000 -7.5 -9.1 -10.6 -12.0 -13.4 -14.7 
			 45,000 -7.8 -9.4 -10.8 -12.3 -13.7 -15.0 
			 46,000 -8.1 -9.6 -11.1 -12.6 -13.9 -15.3 
			 47,000 -8.4 -9.9 -11.4 -12.8 -14.2 -15.6 
			 48,000 -8.6 -10.2 -11.6 -13.1 -14.5 -15.8 
			 49,000 -8.9 -10.4 -11.9 -13.3 -14.7 -16.1 
			 50,000 -9.1 -10.6 -12.1 -13.6 -15.0 -16.3 
		
	
	The estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes and are consistent with the November 2002 pre-Budget report. These estimates exclude any behavioural response to the tax change.

Inheritance Tax

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have applied for conditional exemption from inheritance tax in the last 12 months; and how this tax relief is being amended to take into account the implementation of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

Dawn Primarolo: Eight inheritance tax exemption claims concerning land have been received by the Inland Revenue in the last 12 months. Only one case involves "access land" for the purposes of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
	As my hon. Friend knows from his longstanding interest in this topic, rights of access are not the only benefits secured for the public by undertakings under the conditional exemption scheme, and the access provided by such undertakings has never been restricted to the matters covered by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act, where it applies. The Inland Revenue and their heritage advisers take full account of the Act's potential application in determining what undertakings they will regard as giving reasonable public access. They find that the conditional exemption scheme is able to secure greater and/or better quality opportunities for access than those afforded by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act, and they will continue to seek such added benefits.

Israel

Richard Burden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what inquiries are being made by HM Customs and Excise to ascertain whether goods are on sale in British supermarkets which have been imported to the EU under preference according to the EU-Israel Association Agreement but which originate in settlements in the Occupied Territories;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2003, Official Report, column 181W, on Israel, if he will list the imports where verification inquiries are being made by Customs and Excise.

John Healey: Details of verification inquiries could lead to the identification of individual importers and cannot be disclosed. Exemption 13 (Third party's commercial confidences) of the Code of Conduct on Access to Government Information applies.
	Customs and Excise have made no inquiries in supermarkets. They are targeting at the point of import goods where the Israel preference has been claimed but where there is reason to suspect that they may have originated in the Occupied Territories.

Landfill

Angela Browning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the costs to the public sector of (a) salaries and (b) administration arising from his proposed changes to the landfill tax credit scheme.

Michael Meacher: I have been asked to reply.
	The cost of running the transition scheme announced by my right hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury on Monday 3 February Official Report. column 5WS, is expected to be covered by the 2 per cent. of total funding currently used for the cost of administering landfill tax credit scheme. No estimate of the cost of running the new public expenditure programmes has yet been made.

UK Gold Holdings

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount of money realised from the sales of UK gold holdings from 6 July 1999 to 6 March 2002 and what would be the value of that gold at the morning fix on 10 February.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 11 February 2003
	The proceeds from the sale of 395 tonnes of gold over the period 6 July 1999 to 6 March 2002 were approximately $3.5 billion (around £2.1 billion at the exchange rate at close on 10 February 2003). The price of gold at the morning fix on 10 February 2003 was $371.75 per ounce (32,150.747 ounces = 1 tonne).

VAT Exemptions (Charities)

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to extend VAT exemptions for recognised charities.

John Healey: Charities already benefit from a range of special VAT reliefs worth around 200 million a year. We regularly discuss taxation issues with the charitable sector, and within the bounds of long standing formal agreements with our European partners, we are ready to consider opportunities to modernise and update the VAT system where we can.

DEFENCE

Gibraltar

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the strategic importance of Gibraltar to military intervention in Iraq.

Adam Ingram: Gibraltar contains a naval base and other support facilities which are available to support operations in the Mediterranean or middle east.

Afghan-Pakistan Border

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether (a) Lwara and (b) other US positions on the Afghan-Pakistan border have been (i) abandoned and (ii) occupied by al-Qaeda fighters.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 10 February 2003
	Coalition forces continue to maintain a presence in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region to counter anti-coalition militants. The location of such forces is a tactical decision taken by the Commander on the ground and determined, among other things, by operational priorities.
	Eastern and south-eastern Afghanistan is an area where groups opposed to the Coalition presence and the Transitional Authority of President Karzai continue to mount operations. It is not for the United Kingdom to comment on US Operations, however, US forces, in conjunction with other Coalition partners, not only provide support to the Transitional Authority in Kabul, but also act in the wider effort to tackle the limited threat to the security of Afghanistan posed by al-Qaeda, and other dissident remnants.

Anthrax Find

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will release information on the courses of MOD vessels on or before the 23 January from which the quantities of anthrax vaccine found on a Dorset beach could have come; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The possible source of the quantities of anthrax vaccine found on south coast beaches in January is the subject of an ongoing Special Investigation Branch investigation. To release information at this stage could prejudice that ongoing work. I will write to the hon. Member when the investigation is complete.

Army Reservists (NHS)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what category of NHS staff have been called up as Army reservists in the last four weeks.

Lewis Moonie: In the four weeks prior to 9 January, 33 NHS staff were called up as Army reservists for involvement in Operations in the Balkans, and in preparation for possible operations in the Gulf.
	The NHS categories involved are:
	Environmental Health Officer
	Consultant Anaesthetics and Resuscitation Doctor
	Nurse
	Ophthalmic Nurse Specialist
	Pharmacist
	Directorate Manager of Anaesthetics Theatres and Intensive Care Unit
	Misuse of Drugs Inspector
	Consultant Haematologist and Physician
	Senior Registrar
	Consultant Surgeon
	Consultant Gynaecologist.

Defence Diversification Agency

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the objectives of the Defence Diversification Agency.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence takes the issues of diversification very seriously and encourages the widest possible exploitation of defence technology by the civil sector. In order to facilitate this we established the Defence Diversification Agency (DDA) in 1999 and it continues with its original aims:
	To encourage the wider use of defence science and technology in the civil sector.
	To encourage the transfer to suitable civil technology into military programmes.
	To assist the defence industry with their own diversification planning.
	To deliver these objectives the DDA has established a network of technology brokers across the United Kingdom. Thus far 18 offices have been opened with further ones planned.
	Each office is staffed with a Technology Diversification Manager whose role is to seek business opportunities working in partnership with local business support and enterprise groups.

Defence Establishments (Closures)

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will list the Ministry of Defence establishments that have been designated for closure;
	(2)  how many Ministry of Defence establishments were closed in 2002.

Lewis Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Depleted Uranium

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the expenditure was on MOD research into depleted uranium munitions in each year since 1997 and what percentage of the departmental budget this represented in each case.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 11 February 2003
	Approximate figures are set out in the table. All figures are at outturn prices and include VAT.
	
		
			 Financial year Expenditure (£) Percentage of defence budget 
		
		
			 1997–98 120,000 0.00057 
			 1998–99 140,000 0.00062 
			 1999–2000 85,000 0.00037 
			 2000–01 105,000 0.00045 
			 2001–02 135,000 0.00056 
			 2002–03 (1)l,680,000 0.007 
		
	
	(1) Budgeted
	Additionally, some further research was carried out on Challenger II and other anti-armour weapons. The DU element of this was not separately identified at the time.

Eurofighter

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of the total expenditure by his Department on the Eurofighter in each year from 1997–98 to 2008–09; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Total expenditure by the Ministry of Defence on acquisition of the Eurofighter Typhoon, on a cash basis and at outturn prices, was as follows:
	
		
			 Year £ million 
		
		
			 1997–98 410 
			 1998–99 570 
			 1999–2000 580 
			 2000–01 760 
			 2001–02 840 
			 2002–03 800 
		
	
	Note:
	The figure for 2002–03 is an estimate.
	Figures for future years are being withheld in accordance with Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information that relates to confidentiality of internal discussions and advice.

Eurofighter

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Eurofighter aircraft he plans to purchase; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: We plan to purchase 232 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.

Human Centrifuge

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 29 January 2003, Official Report, column 859W, on human centrifuge, which company, other than AMST, is bidding for the High G RAF human centrifuge project.

Adam Ingram: Wyle Laboratories Inc., of El Segundo, USA, are the other company that have received an invitation to tender for the High G RAF human centrifuge project as recorded in the MOD Defence Contracts Bulletin (Vol. 1 No.5) dated 15 January 2003.

Iraq

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many reservists working in the NHS have been called up to serve in Iraq; and whether the hospital trusts concerned have been informed;
	(2)  how many reservists are working in the NHS (a) as doctors, (b) as nurses, (c) as paramedics and (d) in professions allied to medicine.

Lewis Moonie: Reservists are not usually required to provide details of any civilian employment to the Ministry of Defence until such time as they are called-out. Historically, therefore, no central records have been maintained by the MOD of the numbers of reservists working in the NHS as doctors, nurses, paramedics and other professionals allied to medicine. Although the MOD encourages reservists to declare their reserve status to civilian employers, there is no legal requirement to do so unless specified in individual contracts of employment. The call-out papers sent to reservists require them to advise the MOD of their civilian employer, and to pass to their employer documents relating to their call-out, including a form for the employer to return to the MOD acknowledging the call-out.
	Information is not available centrally on the civilian employment of medical reservists called-out for service in the event of military action against Iraq. However, some medical reservists who have been issued with call-out papers had previously declared their civilian employment. As at 6 February, 345 medical reservists in the Volunteer Reserve Forces had been sent call-out papers, and of these, 194 are understood to be working in the NHS. In addition, 182 medical ex-regular Royal Air Force personnel with a reserve liability have been sent call-out papers but information on their civilian employment is not currently available.
	NHS hospital trusts would be informed by reservists of their call-out when they receive their call-out papers. The MOD will work with the Department of Health to minimise disruption to the NHS as far as possible.

Iraq

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are being taken to protect the health of the indigenous population of Iraq in the theatre of operations.

Lewis Moonie: In the event of military operations, we would as always, take great care to minimise civilian casualties. This Government take very seriously their responsibility to act within the framework of international law regulating international conflict. Saddam Hussein of course has no such scruples, as he demonstrated when he used chemical weapons against his own people.

Iraq

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (a) what role is planned for British field hospitals in Iraq and (b) what preparations have been made for such hospitals to receive civilian casualties of all nationalities in the event of hostilities in Iraq.

Lewis Moonie: The purpose of British field hospitals is to provide hospital equivalent support to United Kingdom forces and their military allies and to meet the requirements of The Hague and Geneva Conventions in the provision of medical support for wounded prisoners of war. They are therefore equipped and manned to support this role.
	There has been no decision to take military action against Iraq. Saddam Hussein might still comply with the demands of the international community although time is running out. If the use of military force is sanctioned, this Government will take its responsibility to act within the framework of international law regulating international conflict very seriously which includes obligations pertaining to civilian populations.

Missile Defence

David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research NATO is carrying out on (a) theatre missile defence and (b) ballistic missile defence of Europe.

Geoff Hoon: NATO has decided to conduct two feasibility studies related to missile defence. The first was launched in July 2001 and addressed Active Layered Tactical Ballistic Missile Defence. The study is nearing completion.
	The second feasibility study is related to protection of Alliance territory, forces and population centres, but is still in the preparatory stage and is unlikely to
	commence before the end of 2003.

NATO

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the annual cost of British membership in NATO was in (a) 1990, (b) 1995 and (c) 2000; and what percentage of the Department's budget was paid to NATO in each those years.

Geoff Hoon: The United Kingdom's direct contributions to NATO's Security Investment Programme and Military Budget are paid directly from the UK Defence Budget. The Defence Budget also pays a very small amount to the NATO Civil Budget (the main portion is paid by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office).
	I am unable to provide the financial details for 1990 as this information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The information for 1991, 1995 and 2000 is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Year UK payment to NATO(£ million) Defence budget (£ million) Percentage of Defence budget 
		
		
			 1991 199.6 23,637 0.92  
			 1995 110.8 21,439 0.52 
			 2000 105.8 23,548 0.45

Night Vision Equipment

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what personal night vision equipment is in service with (a) infantry, (b) Royal Marine units, (c) RAF and (d) Fleet Air Arm aircrew.

Adam Ingram: As at 7 February 2003, the personal night vision equipment in service with the Infantry, Royal Marines and RAF is set out in the following table. This is a snapshot in time as the figures change on a daily basis. Information is not held centrally for the Fleet Air Ann aircrew, but I will write to the hon. Member when
	I have the information and place a copy in the Library of the House.
	
		
			 Description Infantry Royal Marines RAF 
		
		
			 Thermal Imager—short range surveillance (LION) 47 15 0 
			 Thermal Imager—medium range surveillance (SOPHIE) 0 63 1 
			 Thermal Imager. Can be tripod mounted (OTIS) 57 0 0 
			 Thermal Imager. Can be tripod mounted (SPYGLASS) 391 49 61 
			 Weapon sight thermal imager (TADS) 0 8 0 
			 Light weight hand held or head mounted ER device and image intensifier (GPNVG) 1,345 13 386 
			 Mono goggle IR device. Hand held or head mounted. Image intensifier (MNVG) 70 0 0 
			 Head mounted image intensifier (HNVG) 1 5 20 
			 Mono goggle IR device hand held or head mounted. (HMNVS) 286 433 0 
			 Light weight head mounted image intensifier (LUCIE) 46 12 0 
			 Weapon sight. Can be hand held. Image intensifier (CWS) 10,828 679 1,137 
			 Weapon sight. CWS with afocal lens (Maxikite) 153 126 0 
			 Small Arms Night Sight. Weapon sight. Image intensified (SANS) 0 156 0 
			 Sniper Night Sight weapon sight. Image intensifier (SNS) 0 24 0 
			 Head Mounted Night Optic. Goggle (HMNO) 0 84 0

Operation Southern Watch

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether all the RAF's Tornado GR4s are capable of supporting Operation Southern Watch duties; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: All RAF Tornado GR4s within the Actual Operating Fleet are capable of supporting Operation Southern Watch.

Operation Telic

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which RAF units will be participating in Operation Telic; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the RAF (a) units and (b) assets to be deployed to the Gulf region; what the last three operational tours of each was; and what units are earmarked to replace those currently being deployed.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 11 February 2003
	A list of the RAF units from which assets have currently been assigned to Operation TELIC as in the following table. Approximately 100 fixed-wing and 27 rotary-wing aircraft have been assigned to Operation Telic.
	
		
			 Unit Last three operational tours 
		
		
			 11 Squadron RAF Regiment Resinate South Silkman Maidenly 
			 34 Squadron RAF Regiment Fingal Resinate South  
			 120 Squadron (Nimrod MR2) Veritas/Oracle Resinate South Harmala 
			 201 Squadron (Nimrod MR2) Veritas/Oracle Resinate South Harmala 
			 206 Squadron (Nimrod MR2) Veritas/Oracle Resinate South Harmala 
			 3(F) Squadron (Harrier GR7) Palliser Deliberate Forge Bolton 
			 16 Squadron RAF Regiment (note 1) Fresco Falkland Islands  
			 1 Squadron RAF Regiment (note 1) Resinate South Fingal Veritas/Hacton 
			 51 Squadron RAF Regiment (note 1) Resinate South   
			 1 Tactical Survive to Operate (note 1) Resinate South Resinate South  
			 3 Tactical Survive to Operate (note 1) Resinate South   
			 4 Tactical Survive to Operate (note 1) Resinate South   
			 10 Squadron (VC10) Oracle Fingal Jacana 
			 101 Squadron (VC10) Oracle Fingal Jacana 
			 216 Squadron (Tristar) Oracle Fingal Jacana 
			 32 (The Royal) Squadron (HS 125) Oracle Fingal Jacana 
			 8 Squadron (E-3D) Oracle Allied Force Joint Guardian 
			 23 Squadron (E-3D) Oracle Allied Force Joint Guardian 
			 1(F) Squadron (Harrier GR7) Magellan Allied Force Deliberate Forge 
			 IV Squadron (Harrier GR7) Deliberate Forge Vulcan Warden 
			 24 Squadron (C130) Oracle Fingal Bessemer 
			 30 Squadron (C130) Oracle Fingal Bessemer 
			 47 Squadron (C130) Oracle Fingal Bessemer 
			 70 Squadron (C130) Oracle Fingal Bessemer 
			 99 Squadron (C17) Oracle Fingal Bessemer 
			 II Squadron (Tornado GR4) Resinate South Resinate South Resinate South 
			 IX(B) Squadron (Tornado GR4) Resinate South Resinate South Resinate South 
			 13 Squadron (Tornado GR4) Resinate South Resinate South Resinate South 
			 31 Squadron (Tornado GR4) Resinate South Resinate South Resinate South 
			 617 Squadron (Tornado GR4) Resinate South Resinate South Resinate South 
			 12 Squadron (Tornado GR4) Resinate South Resinate South Resinate South 
			 14 Squadron (Tornado GR4) Resinate South Resinate South Resinate South 
			 54 Squadron (Jaguar GR3) Resinate North Resinate North Resinate North 
			 6 Squadron (Jaguar GR3) Resinate North Resinate North Resinate North 
			 41 Squadron (Jaguar GR3) Resinate North Resinate North Resinate North 
			
			 11 Squadron (Tornado F3) Veritas Resinate South Falkland Islands 
			 25 Squadron (Tornado F3) Resinate South Falkland Islands Veritas 
			 43 Squadron (Tornado F3) Falkland Islands Veritas Resinate South 
			 111 Squadron (Tornado F3) Resinate South Veritas Falkland Islands 
			 (Helicopter) RAF Odiham (note 2) Jacana Oculus Banner 
			 (Helicopter) RAF Benson (note 2) Oculus Agricola Barwood 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Where less than three operations are shown the unit has not completed any further operational tours.
	2. Helicopter units are identified by station, not Squadron.
	At present it is premature to speculate about the duration of any military deployments or about the rotation or replacement of the forces involved. No United Kingdom forces have been committed to any military action against Iraq and there is still time for Saddam to comply fully with UNSCR 1441 and avoid disarmament by force.

Royal Navy Ships

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether further reductions in Royal Navy (a) warships and (b) submarines are envisaged in consequence of the new chapter of the Strategic Defence Review.

Geoff Hoon: As I said when announcing its publication, the New Chapter provided a "mandate for accelerating the modernisation and evolution of the armed forces" (18 July 2002,Official Report, column 461). The Defence White Paper, which I intend to publish later this year, will explain our plans to use the additional resources made available in Spending Review 2002 for further investment in the capabilities to enable the Royal Navy to meet the challenges posed by the changed strategic context.

Tank Procurement

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of the expenditure by his Department on tank procurement in each year from 1990–91 to 2008–09 (planned); and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Expenditure on tank procurement during the period 1990 to 2002 is shown in the table.
	
		£ million
		
			  Direct procurement expenditure 
		
		
			 1990–94 — 
			 1994–95 31 
			 1995–96 73 
			 1996–97 12 
			 1997–98 36 
			 1998–99 352 
			 1999–2000 412 
			 2000–01 282 
			 2001–02 281 
			 2002 to present — 
		
	
	Planned expenditure on tank procurement over the period 2003–09 has yet to be decided. As part of our evaluation of the Future Rapid Effect System (FRES),
	we are investigating the possibility of including a direct fire (light tank) variant. FRES is still in its Concept Phase and has yet to go through the first stage of the formal approval process (Initial Gate).

Universities' Royal Naval Units

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role and structure of the Universities' Royal Naval Units.

Lewis Moonie: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Vacant Ministry Buildings

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of Ministry of Defence owned buildings are vacant; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Working Week

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many hours were worked in the average week in (a) the Army, (b) the Navy and (c) the Air Force in each of the past five years.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and I will place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Air Quality

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to implement recommendations for low emission zones made by the National Society for Clean Air.

Alun Michael: The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Transport wrote to the National Society for Clean Air last May, on behalf of himself and the then Minister for Environment, agreeing, in principal, the merits of Government support for their recommendation for a low emission zone national standard. I understand the Society has still to finalise their proposals and are about to undertake further consultation. We have asked the Society to let us know the outcome to allow consideration of the potential social and economic impacts of a final standard before formally agreeing to endorse it.

Air Quality

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the local authorities in England which have completed Ambient Air Quality (a) plans and (b) assessments; and what measures she is taking to assist local authorities to adopt ambient air quality plans.

Alun Michael: Local authorities have a statutory duty under the Environment Act 1995 to designate air quality management areas where it is likely that the air quality objectives, as prescribed in regulations, will not be met by the relevant deadline.
	Over 100 authorities have now declared air quality management areas. Following the designation of an air quality management area, the local authority has a statutory duty to undertake a further review and assessment within 12 months from when the air quality management area came into effect. The local authority also has to produce an action plan within 12–18 months setting out the measures it intends to implement to work towards meeting the air quality objectives in that area.
	Those local authorities in England which have produced air quality action plans and consulted the Secretary of State on them are listed as follows:
	Westminster City Council
	London borough of Croydon
	London borough of Camden
	London borough of Southwark
	London borough of Greenwich
	London borough of Barnet
	London borough of Richmond upon Thames
	London borough of Lambeth
	London borough of Merton
	London borough of Islington
	London borough of Enfield
	London borough of Waltham Forest
	London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
	Royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea
	London borough of Ealing
	Corporation of London
	South Lakeland
	Dartford
	Fenland
	North Warwickshire
	Thurrock
	Wycombe
	Tonbridge and Malling
	Doncaster
	Warrington
	Derby
	Colchester
	Leeds
	Those local authorities in England which have produced further assessments under section 84 of the 1995 Act and consulted the Secretary of State are listed as follows:
	Babergh DC
	Barnsley MBC
	Bath and NE Somerset
	Bristol City Council
	Bromsgrove
	City of Westminster
	Colchester BC
	Corporation of London
	Dartford BC
	Derby City Council
	Doncaster MBC
	Erewash BC
	Fenland DC
	Gravesham BC
	Herefordshire
	Hertsmere
	London borough of Barnet
	London borough of Camden
	London borough of Croydon
	London borough of Ealing
	London borough of Enfield
	London borough of Lewisham
	London borough of Richmond
	London borough of Waltham Forest
	Leeds City Council
	Maidstone BC
	Manchester City Council
	Medway
	North Warwickshire
	Royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea
	Rochdale
	Rotherham
	Rushmoor
	Salisbury
	South Gloucestershire
	South Lakeland
	St. Edmundsbury
	Stockport
	Stroud
	Tewkesbury
	Thurrock
	Tonbridge and Mailing
	Trafford MBC
	Warrington
	Wigan
	Wokingham
	Wycombe
	York
	In England, the Revenue Support Grant Settlement provides running cost resources for local air quality management duties under the 1995 Act. We also have a Supplementary Credit Approvals (SCAs) programme to support local authorities' capital costs and we have targeted the SCAs at those authorities who have to undertake further assessments and those with action plans. Local authorities can also bid for funds through the local transport plan regime to support local traffic measures in their action plans.

Illegal Meat Imports

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people coming into the UK have been apprehended at the port of entry in each of the last five years for illegal importation of meat products.

Elliot Morley: Since we started keeping records centrally in April 2001, we have been notified of 5,818 people who have had products of animal origin seized and notices served. However, we have not been notified of anyone being arrested at the port of entry for the illegal importation of meat products.

Sheep Dip

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information she has collated on adverse health effects reported following use of sheep dip by farmers.

Elliot Morley: In October 2002 the Government published a Report on an Analytical Study of data collected under the UK's Veterinary Medicines Suspected Adverse Reaction Surveillance Scheme (SARSS) on reports of suspected adverse reactions to OP sheep dips. This Report is available in the Library of the House and on the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD)'s website (www.vmd.gov.uk).
	The Report's main conclusions were that:
	The strength of internal association shown between reports of ill health and both the extent and current status of dipping activities underlines the importance of the Government funded epidemiological and mechanistic research studies currently underway;
	the variable quality of the data submitted to the SARSS, together with the inherent nature of data from a passive monitoring system, prevented firmer conclusions being drawn; and
	while no novel patterns of symptoms were detected, some symproms (notably myalgia and depression) were prominent features of OP related suspected adverse reaction reports.
	This report has been considered by the Veterinary Products Committee (VPC), the independent advisory committee of experts established to provide advice to Government on the safety, quality and efficacy of veterinary medicines. The VPC has advised that the report's findings do not support any additional regulatory action being taken on OP sheep dips.
	Final findings from the Government's £1.4 million targeted research programme on OPs are expected in 2006.

Animal Diseases (EU Finance)

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2002, Official Report, column 40W, on animal diseases (EU finance), on what date the claims were submitted to the European Commission and by what means.

Elliot Morley: In order to claim EU contributions to expenditure in 2003, we were required to submit programmes for that year by 1 June 2002. Northern Ireland officials wrote to the Commission on 14 June 2002, submitting their programmes for TB and Brucella. Defra wrote to the Commission on 22 October 2002 submitting programmes for TSE testing. The Commission confirmed on 11 November 2002 that it was not then legally possible for payments to be made.

Animal Welfare

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action the Government have taken to limit the maximum journey time for livestock throughout Europe.

Elliot Morley: The rules governing animal welfare during transport, including maximum permitted journey times, are set down in directive 91/628/EEC, as amended. They are implemented in GB by the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997, as amended. We have consistently pressed the European Commission to bring forward proposals to amend and update these rules. In September 2002, the Secretary of State supported calls for shorter journey times for animals going to slaughter.
	In the wider European context, we have played a leading role in revising the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Animals During International Transport.

Badgers

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what evidence her Department evaluated in advance of the slaughter of badgers at Saltdean.

Elliot Morley: Before granting a licence under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, for the capture and humane killing of badgers occupying one sett, to prevent serious damage to property in Saltdean, we evaluated evidence that included reports following site visits by wildlife advisers from the Department's Rural Development Service, and advice given by the Central Science Laboratory. In this case we also consulted English Nature, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the National Federation of Badger Groups.

Capital Projects

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place the evaluations for Capital Modernisation Fund projects in her Department and undertaken by the Forestry Commission since 1998 in the Library; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The Forestry Commission is undertaking two projects through the Capital Modernisation Fund. The first relates to Community Forestry and the second involves the modernisation of the Commission's holiday cabin sites in England.
	However, both projects are still in progress and full evaluation reports are not, therefore, available at this time.

Cetaceans

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the estimated number of dolphins in (a) 2003 and (b) 1993 within the British Isles.

Elliot Morley: Obtaining population estimates for cetaceans is difficult. There is a wide margin of error within abundance estimates and the geographical limits of most biological populations of dolphin species are not known.
	To date, major surveys of cetacean distribution or abundance have not been carried out at regular intervals. The table, which has been placed in the Library, gives figures from the 2002 report of the Advisory Committee on Ecosystems of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), illustrating the latest information on the populations and abundance of cetaceans that occur in UK waters. The populations are given in terms of ICES areas or geographical locality. A map showing the ICES areas has been placed in the Library of the House.
	A consortium of international researchers, co-ordinated by the Sea Mammal Research Unit, is planning to carry out a survey of the distribution and abundance of small cetaceans in 2004–05. It is intended that all UK waters will be included in the survey area. International funding is being sought in support of this work.
	Reliable estimates for dolphin abundance in British waters in 1993 are not available.

Correspondence

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Workington dated 10 December 2001, sent on to her Department in March 2002, concerning Mr. Williams, a constituent.

Michael Meacher: The correspondence referred to was received in the Department for the first time in December 2002 when the hon. Member sent a copy. I replied on 12 February 2003.

Dairy Industry

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assistance and support she is able to provide to dairy farmers in the north-west; and what recent discussions she has had with (a) representatives from the dairy industry and (b) supermarkets regarding the price of milk.

Elliot Morley: Dairy farmers in the north-west, in common with the rest of the country, benefit indirectly from the Dairy CAP, which involves expenditure of nearly two billion euros across the Community. Despite this considerable expenditure, the farmgate price of milk remains below the level at which many dairy farmers can make the investment required to sustain their businesses. This clearly shows the current Dairy CAP is failing farmers and is in need of reform. The UK Government do not regard the Commission proposals for dairy reform in the context of the Mid Term Review to go far enough to address those concerns.
	The prices negotiated between farmers and purchases, or processors and retailers, are private commercial matters in which the Government cannot get involved. We have not therefore met with representatives of the dairy industry specifically to discuss this issue. However, Ministers frequently meet with representatives from all parts of the dairy sector in the course of their duties, to discuss the overall market situation, and we are well aware of concerns about prices.
	We believe that a sustainable future for dairy farming is best secured through the action we have already announced in response to the recommendations of the Policy Commission on the Future of Food and Farming and our Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food, which we published on 12 December 2002. My noble Friend, Lord Whitty has convened a number of meetings of an informal dairy supply chain group, which has addressed some of these issues. In addition, at its next meeting on 28 February 2003 this group will discuss how the industry might address any lessons that emerge from the on-going study by KPMG on the structure of the UK dairy sector and milk pricing, which was commissioned by the Milk Development Council, as well as the Commission's proposals for reform of the Dairy CAP.

Departmental Budgets

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the budgets are for 2002–03 for each of the advisory bodies, stakeholders groups, executive agencies, executive non-departmental public bodies, advisory non-departmental public bodies, public corporations and tribunals sponsored by her Department, as listed on pages 87–89 of the Defra Departmental Report 2002; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The information requested on the executive agencies and for most of the executive non-departmental public bodies and public corporations is given in the table. Equivalent information on the other bodies is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost:
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 Central Science Laboratory 2,233 
			 Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science 9,443 
			 Pesticides Safety Directorate -2,449 
			 Rural Payments Agency 493,595 
			 Veterinary Laboratories Agency 9,089 
			 Veterinary Medicines Directorate -398 
			 Apple and Pear Research Council 105 
			 British Potato Council 6,747 
			 Countryside Agency 95,439 
			 English Nature 71,038 
			 Environment Agency 330,569 
			 Food From Britain 5,428 
			 Home-Grown Cereals Authority 11,364 
			 Horticultural Development Council 571 
			 Horticulture Research International 7,297 
			 Meat and Livestock Commission 27,873 
			 Milk Development Council 7,464 
			 National Forest Company 1,824 
			 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 22,159 
			 Sea Fish Industry Authority 1,449 
			 Wine Standards Board 448 
			 British Waterways Board 123,250 
			 Covent Garden Market Authority 1,957

Departmental Consultations

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list consultations her Department has conducted since it was established; and when each consultation (a) opened and (b) closed.

Alun Michael: Information on written consultation exercises undertaken by Defra is in the public domain and can be obtained from the Department's website at pa www.defra.gov.uk. in the section entitled 'Consultations'. This includes information on the opening and closing dates for all consultations.

European Water Directive

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to develop and implement a communications strategy for the EU Water Framework Directive.

Elliot Morley: Defra's stakeholder group will be meeting regularly to discuss implementation issues and develop agreed approaches to communicating the key messages of the directive. The Environment Agency is also developing a public participation strategy for the implementation of the directive through river basin management plans. This will draw on a pilot river basin project in the Ribble basin.

European Water Directive

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to pilot the Common Implementation Strategy Guidance on Wetlands in the EU Water Framework Directive.

Elliot Morley: A drafting group led by Italy with UK participation is due to submit draft guidance on wetlands for adoption by an EC Water Directors group by May 2003. We will then be able to take a view on whether and in what way the guidance might be piloted in England, alongside other piloting work which will be under way.

Flood Defences (Hampton Bishop)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action the Environment Agency is taking to ensure that the Welsh Environment Agency repairs the flood defence barrier by the Bunch of Carrots pub at Hampton Bishop, Herefordshire.

Elliot Morley: Operational responsibility for flood measures rests with the local operating authorities, normally the Environment Agency (EA) and local councils, who decide which projects to promote and their timing. This Department provides grants for flood and coastal defence capital works and associated studies, which meet essential technical, economic and environmental criteria and achieve an appropriate priority score.
	I understand that EA Wales is preparing a submission to Defra for approval of grant aid on a proposed scheme to strengthen and improve approximately 1 km of the existing embankment along the River Wye at Hampton Bishop, Herefordshire. The EA has identified this length as having a potential weakness in extreme flood conditions. Additionally the agency, in co-operation with Herefordshire county council, has put into place an emergency response procedure for Hampton Bishop. This would include the evacuation of residents in the event of the agency issuing a severe flood warning for the location.

Flooding

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the (a) local authorities and (b) local drainage boards whose information about flood risks has been entered into the National Flood and Coastal Defence Database.

Margaret Beckett: No information about flood risk from local authorities or local drainage boards has yet been entered into the National Flood and Coastal Defence Database. At present priority is being given to entering Environment Agency data, information on flood risk from local authorities and drainage boards is being collected and will be input in the next phase.

Flooding

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much grant aid has been paid to the Environment Agency and its flood defence committees for flood defence in England in each of the past five financial years; how much will be allocated to them this financial year; and how much has been allocated under the Government's Spending Review 2002 for the next three financial years.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency (EA) receives the bulk of its funding for management of flood risk through levies on local authorities which are largely reimbursed by central Government through the ODPM's funding stream to local authorities. Defra provides grant aid to the flood and coastal defence operating authorities (EA, local authorities and internal drainage boards) to support their capital works and related studies in the management of risk from flooding and coastal erosion. In the case of the EA, additional contributions are made to support national initiatives such as the flood warning public awareness campaign, the national flood and coastal defence database and catchment flood management plans. Figures in cash terms for Defra grant allocated in the current and five past years are:
	
		
			 Year Grant (£ million) 
		
		
			 1997–98 (actual)(2) 43.0 
			 1998–99 (actual) 33.8 
			 1999–2000 (actual) 33.0 
			 2000–2001 (actual) 41.9 
			 2001–02 (actual) 61.5 
			 2002–03 (forecast) 70.0 
			 2003–04 (forecast)(3) 69.0 
		
	
	(2) The initial allocations for 1997–98 was increased significantly in year by redistribution of funds from elsewhere in the Department.
	(3) Spending provision of £114 million for all authorities for 2003–04 proved insufficient to meet investment needs and Defra has increased this to £136 million. However, a number of unusually large local authority projects have meant the EA allocation has had to remain at much the same level as for 2002–03.
	Allocations are decided annually and the EA's for 2004–05 and 2005–06 have not yet been set. However indicative figures, which will be subject to change, at £80 million and £110 million respectively.

Forest Enterprise (England) (Grant Provision)

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether the increase in grant to Forest Enterprise (England) has been above, below or at inflation level for the past five years;
	(2)  what the grant was to Forest Enterprise (England) in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and (f) 2002;
	(3)  what the proposed grant to Forest Enterprise (England) is in 2003.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 6 February 2003
	Prior to devolution in 1999, all Forestry Commission and Forest Enterprise financial records and accounts were maintained on a GB-wide basis. It has not, therefore, been possible to identify the relevant figures for the years 1997–98 and 1998–99. The net cash costs of Forest Enterprise (England) for the last three years, together with the forecast for the current financial year and budget for 2003–04, are given in the following table.
	
		£,000
		
			 Year  
		
		
			  
			  
			 1999–2000 3,381 
			 2000–01 13,183 
			 2001–02 13,007 
			 2002–03(4) 25,950 
			 2003–04(5) 19,500 
		
	
	(4) Forecast
	(5) Budget
	The net cash expenditure of Forest Enterprise is funded from the Forestry Commission's annual vote and is not linked to inflation. The funding takes account of various factors such as changes in activities, steeply declining timber prices and variations in capital income and expenditure, particularly through successful bids to the Capital Modernisation Fund.

GM Crops

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the notification of (a) genetically modified oilseed rape (GT73) by the Dutch Government and (b) genetically modified maize (NK603) by the Spanish Government; and what representations she has made to those Governments and the European Commission.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 4 February 2003
	The dossiers for these two applications were received from the European Commission on 24 January 2003 with favourable opinions from the Dutch and Spanish competent authorities respectively. Under the provisions of Directive 2001/18 on the release of GMOs to the environment, the UK has 60 days from the date of receipt in which to consider the dossiers and forward comments or reasoned objections. Both are applications for consent to import the specific GM grain commodities for processing and use as food and as animal feed or as an ingredient in food and in animal feed products. The dossiers will be assessed by the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations, taking advice from the relevant expert advisory committees on environmental, human and animal health aspects. In these cases advice will be needed from the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment, the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes and the Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs. We will also take due account of comments made by members of the UK public in response to public consultations that are being organised by the Commission.

Janet Hughes (Costs Claim)

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy not to enforce her Department's claim for costs against Janet Hughes of Churchstoke, Montgomery.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 3 February 2003
	Janet Hughes was ordered by the Court to pay Defra's legal costs following an unsuccessful judicial review claim. The Department has a responsibility to protect public expenditure. The possibility of having to pay costs for unsuccessful litigation is something of which Ms Hughes should have been made fully aware by her legal advisers at the time. My Department gave her a number of opportunities to put forward payment proposals, which she has refused to do until now. I am considering the proposal she has now made.

Parrett Catchment Project

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what jobs have been declared by the chairman of the Parrett catchment project.

Elliot Morley: As the Parrett Catchment Project is an independent body, no such declaration has to be made to the Department by the chair.

Public Service Agreement

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 3 February 2003, Official Report, column 25W, on the public service agreement, how the savings will be measured; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: Defra budgets have been fixed on the basis that target efficiency gains will be achieved. Business areas will therefore be required to identify ways of achieving the same outcomes within these budget constraints. In order to ensure these efficiency gains are captured and measured, business areas will be required to produce an efficiency plan as part of the business planning process. These plans will be monitored centrally.

Radioactive Waste

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what quality control programme is in place for the stocks of high activity radioactive waste in store at (a) Sellafield, (b) Dounreay, (c) Harwell and (d) nuclear power plant sites.

Brian Wilson: I have been asked to reply.
	The Quality Control arrangements in place for High Level Waste at the Sellafield Site are designed and implemented to ensure safe and reliable operations and product storage.
	The Quality Management System of Thorp and the High Level Waste Plant's Vitrification Lines is independently certified to the international quality standard ISO 9002:1994. Staff involved in the management and control of high activity waste are suitably qualified and experienced. Routine staff assessment and training is performed to ensure that the appropriate level of expertise is maintained. Waste operations at Sellafield are regulated by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965.
	The storage of high-level waste liquors at Dounreay is subject to a strict monitoring and surveillance regime by UKAEA, and is also regulated by the NII under the conditions of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965.
	In addition, all Dounreay operations, including the management of wastes, meet the requirements of the international quality standard ISO 9001/2000 and the
	environmental management standard ISO 14001.
	There are no high activity wastes at Harwell.

Returnable Bottles

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect of the use of returnable bottles on reducing the amount of domestic and commercial waste in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: We believe there are overall environmental and commercial benefits in a deposit and return system for bottles. A deposits system would involve the public directly in waste collection and this would help to change the culture of waste collection and recycling.
	We are currently investigating deposit systems used in other European countries. Some of these countries have reported very high administrative costs, which could make these schemes a more expensive way of recycling products than other collection methods. Some countries have reported benefits from such systems, particularly in terms of higher recycling rates, but sometimes these occur in the countries which have high packaging waste recycling targets and it is not clear that deposit systems on their own would deliver high recycling rates in a cost-effective way.
	We would therefore need to consider both the costs and benefits of a deposit scheme. We would also have to examine how deposit systems could complement and add to other means of encouraging waste minimization and recycling, such as the packaging regulations.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made by the Government since 1997 in strengthening the legislative protection afforded to sites of special scientific interest.

Elliot Morley: The legislative protection afforded to sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) in England was significantly strengthened by Part III of the Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) Act 2000. The Act became law on 30 January 2001. The amendments introduced include:
	provisions that enable English Nature to exercise greater control over activities that may affect SSSIs by refusing, modifying or applying conditions to consents as appropriate;
	a power for English Nature to secure the management of a SSSI;
	improved procedures for notification and denotification of SSSIs;
	various rights of appeal to owners and occupiers of land who are affected by the Act's provisions;
	increased powers of entry to land for English Nature and extended powers of compulsory purchase;
	increased penalties for damage to a SSSI by owners and occupiers and new offences for damage to a SSSI by other people, including public bodies;
	a new power for English Nature to make byelaws to protect SSSIs;
	new duties on public bodies and statutory bodies in respect of SSSIs; and,
	restrictions on public bodies and statutory bodies when they carry out or authorise activities which affect a SSSI.

Sudden Oak Death

David Curry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will assess the risk of infection by the sudden oak death fungal pathogen Phytophthora ramorum in (a) quercus species and (b) fagus species.

Michael Meacher: The Pest Risk Assessment for Phytophthora ramorum shows that various quercus species, including Quercus rubra (American red oak) and Quercus ilex (Mediterranean holly oak), have been shown to be particularly susceptible to the disease. In initial results of trials under laboratory conditions, Quercus robur (English oak) has shown less susceptibility. Fagus sylvatica (European beech) is also classed as being susceptible to the disease. This research work is continuing. I have placed a copy of the latest revision of the Summary Pest Risk Analysis, which is under continual review and includes the risk assessment, in the Library of the House.

Warm Front Grants

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much money in total has been allocated to Warm Front.

Elliot Morley: Between June 2000 and March 2002 some £270 million was spent under the Warm Front scheme. The Warm Front budget for the current year is £163 million. Defra allocations for future years are still under discussion.

Waste Management

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what additional funding will be made available to local authorities and community organisations for sustainable waste management projects to replace project funding under the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme; when these funds will become available; and by what mechanism these funds will be distributed.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 12 February 2003
	The Landfill Tax Credit Scheme (LTCS) transition scheme announced by my right hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury on 3 February 2003 is now open for applications from those projects that consider they meet the criteria set out in the statement. Funding is available to meet all eligible applications. The regulator of LTCS, Entrust, will also administer this scheme and further information is available on the Entrust website at www.entrust.org.uk In implementing this transitional funding arrangement, the Government are putting in place a straightforward process for making decisions on funding to ensure minimum delay and uncertainty for on-going projects. Also, by establishing this transitional funding period the Government are providing a reasonable period for projects to manage the consequences of the decision announced in the Pre-Budget Report.
	Decisions on the mechanisms to be used to distribute funds under the new public expenditure programmes, aimed at delivering sustainable waste management objectives, have yet to be made. An announcement on this is expected next month.

Water Framework Directive

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to consult on the creation of formal links between river basin management planning and land use planning during the process of implementing the Water Framework Directive.

Elliot Morley: The relationship between the Water Framework Directive and the planning system was one of the issues on which respondents were invited to give their views in the recent second consultation exercise on implementation of the directive and will be discussed in Defra's water stakeholder group.

Woodland Grant Scheme

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what evaluation she has made of the impact on (a) the rural economy, (b) rural employment and (c) skills retention of possible changes in the level of winter tree planting as a result of the revision of the closing dates for the Woodland Grant Scheme;
	(2)  what evaluation she has made of the impact on the nursery tree production sector of the introduction of a single closing date for the Woodland Grant Scheme for new planting.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 10 February 2003
	A significant area of the land to be planted in the 2003–04 season has already been approved for grant aid, and the Forestry Commission is not expecting a substantial reduction in applications in 2003. In addition, planting under Challenge and other schemes is not affected by the closing dates. Overall, the Commission has assessed that the changes to the closing dates would have minimal impact on the rural economy, rural employment, skills retention and the forest nursery trade.

TRANSPORT

Air Travel Security

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what plans he has to require airlines to ask all passengers to prove their identity;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department concerning the imposition of a requirement on airlines to ask all passengers to prove their identity.

David Jamieson: The UK National Aviation Security Programme does not specifically require airlines to ask passengers to prove their identity, and while all measures are kept under review, there is no present intention that it should do so. The primary measures which underpin security in this area is that all passengers, all items of hand baggage and all items of hold baggage must be screened, and that airlines must ensure that the person who checks in hold baggage is the same person who subsequently boards the aircraft. We do not specify how airlines should achieve this, instead allowing them flexibility. On international flights where passports are carried, airlines usually use these to confirm identity. On domestic flights, and those to the Republic of Ireland where there is no need to carry a passport, airlines adopt a variety of methods to ensure that those who check hold baggage then travel with it.

Air Travel Reserve Fund

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the financial status of the Air Travel Reserve Fund; and if he will list which types of air tickets are (a) covered and (b) not covered by the Air Travel Reserve Fund and set out the (i) nature of such cover which may be available and (ii) the number and value of tickets sold in each category in each year from 1997.

David Jamieson: The Air Travel Reserve Fund was wound up in 1986 and its functions were transferred to the Air Travel Trust Fund (ATTF). The ATTF provides a back-up facility to the Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (ATOL) scheme, should a bond held by an ATOL holder be insufficient to meet customer claims in the event of that company's financial failure. Taken together, the ATOL scheme and the ATTF cover air tickets sold by an ATOL holder, either as part of a package or on a seat-only basis. Air tickets sold directly by airlines or their ticketing agents are not covered, but some purchasers may be protected when a credit card is used. In the event of failure of an ATOL holder, the Civil Aviation Authority will ensure that those abroad at the time will be able to continue their holidays and return home, and will reimburse those who have paid for their holiday but have yet to travel.
	The Air Travel Trust Fund (ATTF) has a current deficit of approximately £9 million, but is able to meet its liabilities on the basis of a Government guaranteed overdraft facility.
	The number of tickets sold in each category in each year since 1997 is set out in the following table:
	
		million
		
			  Total sales ATOL/ATTF protected sales 
		
		
			 1997 39.7 23.5 
			 1998 44.1 25.0 
			 1999 47.3 26.4 
			 2000 51.7 28.0 
			 2001 53.8 29.1 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The totals in the centre column are estimates of the number of UK-originating return journeys made by people domiciled in the UK. The totals in the right-hand column are actual journeys made under the protection of ATOL. The number of journeys is a proxy for the number of tickets sold.
	2. Figures for 2002 are not yet available.
	3. Data on the total value of the tickets sold in each category are not available.
	Source:
	CAA.

Aircraft (Palace of Westminster)

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport from what time in the morning aircraft are permitted to fly into Heathrow over the Palace of Westminster.

David Jamieson: Aircraft are permitted to fly over the Palace of Westminster, along with other parts of central London whenever Heathrow is open to receive flights.

Airport Security

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to increase security at BAA airports; and what discussions he has had with BAA and CAA on this issue and the funding of enhanced security.

David Jamieson: holding answer 11 February 2003
	Following the attacks in the USA in September 2001, heightened aviation security measures were introduced at all UK airports, including those owned by BAA plc, and for all airlines operating from the UK. Security at UK airports remains at an enhanced level, and is kept under continuous review.
	It has long been central to UK aviation policy that users should pay the full costs of air travel, and that this should include the costs of whatever level of security is deemed appropriate. There are no plans to change this approach.

Arriva Northern

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the (a) economic and (b) other effects of the Arriva Northern strike.

John Spellar: None. Industrial relations are matters primarily between the train operators as employers and the trade unions representing their employees.

Capita

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 15 January 2003, Official Report, column 622W, on Capita, if he will give the (a) start and finish date, (b) value, (c) evaluation mechanism for successful delivery and (d) penalty charges for failure to deliver for each contract; whether penalty charges have been incurred; what the service level agreements were; what the contract numbers were; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The information requested is given in the following table.
	My Department currently has nine contracts with Capita. The National Traffic Census contract awarded to a Capita subsidiary (and various other companies) was omitted from my earlier answer in error.
	The Department's evaluation mechanism for successful delivery of a contract is based on value for money, taking into consideration cost, quality and delivery for each individual tender.
	Where potential loss to the Department can be quantified/assessed in advance, it may be covered by a liquidated damages clause. This is intended to cover only actual quantifiable losses by the Department.
	The Driving Standards Agency contract for the provision of a computer system for the booking of the Practical Driving Test and associated services is the only current contract with Capita containing a liquidated damages clause. Liquidated damages were sought from, and later agreed with, Capita in 1999 following late delivery of the fully functional Driver Test Control element of the system.
	Details of individual service level agreements are not provided to protect commercial confidentiality.
	
		
			 Department/Agency Title/purpose Start date End date Value(see notes(6),(7),(8)) Contract number 
		
		
			 (Central) Department External Recruitment Service for the recruitment of staff at all grades below the senior civil service 12 November 2001 11 November 2004 (8)45,000 (to date) PPAD 9/1/70 
			  National Road Traffic Census (Cumbria Region) for 2002–04 1 January 2002 31 December 2004 (6)121,240 PPAD 9/63/60 
			   
			 Driving Standards Agency Design, build, installation and operation of a computer system for the booking of the Practical Driving Test and associated services, and the supply and maintenance of the Agency's IT/IS infrastructure 8 August 1997 7 August 2004 (6)9,800,000 No specific numberallocated 
			 Highways Agency Consultancy Services Framework for the provision of Human Resources advice and professional services 13 February 2001 20 August 2003 (7)383,000 HA 114/2/342 
			  Consultancy Framework for the provision of construction and design services June 2001 June 2006 (8)1,100,000 (to date) HA 13/005/1339 
			  Provision of safety engineering professional services 25 January 2002 31 January 2004 (6)429,000 2/414 
			  Traffic monitoring services 16 February 2000 11 February 2004 (6)846,385 2/311 
			  Framework Agreement for audit and measurement services 15 August 2002 12 August 2005 (7)3,200,000 2/416 
			  Design and supervision of A66 Stainburn to Great Clifton Bypass trunk road contract 5 February 2001 4 February 2008 (6)363,000 AB840 
		
	
	(6) Value of contract over its duration.
	(7) Maximum estimated value of orders placed over the life of the framework agreement.
	(8) Estimated value of framework agreement not quantified. Figures reflect actual value of orders placed to date on contract.

Capital Modernisation Fund

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library the evaluations for the Capital Modernisation Fund projects relating to (a) London Underground, (b) priority bus routes, (c) rural transport, (d) networking of DSA test centres, (e) automatic number plate readers, (f) DLR City airport extension, (g) Transport Police communications, (h) VI motion sensors, (i) automated traffic management and (j) home zones; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Capital Modernisation Fund funds for the London Underground were included in an overall grant to London Transport in 2000–01 in respect of preparations for the proposed modernisation of the London Underground network. The London Transport Annual Report for 2000–01 sets outs the Government funding for London Transport and how it was utilised.
	The evaluation for the 'Automatic Number Plate Readers' Capital Modernisation Fund project has been completed and a copy will be placed in the Library.
	The remaining Capital Modernisation Fund projects relating to my Department have not yet been completed and hence evaluations not carried out. Once evaluations have been undertaken they will be placed in the Library as appropriate.

Computer Hacking

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cases of computer (a) hacking, (b) fraud and (c) theft his Department recorded in 2001–02; and on how many occasions computer systems have been illegally accessed by computer hackers (i) within and (ii) outside his Department.

David Jamieson: The Department for Transport was established on 29 May 2002. During the period 29 May 2002 to 31 December 2002 there were: (a) no recorded cases of computer hacking, (b) no recorded cases of computer fraud, and (c) one reported case of computer theft. The Department's predecessors during the period 1 January 2001 to 28th May 2002 were the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. During that period there were: (a) no recorded cases of computer hacking, (b) no recorded cases of computer fraud, and (c) five reported cases of computer theft.

Congestion Charge

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the cost of the congestion charge to the Department on the basis of motor vehicles supplied to (a) himself, (b) Ministers of State, (c) Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State, (d) Special Advisers and (e) departmental officials.

David Jamieson: The Government Car and Despatch Agency will meet the costs of the congestion charge for the vehicles it supplies to Departments. It will recover the costs of these charges from Departments. The cost will depend on the number of days that the cars are used within the congestion zone boundary on official business.

Congestion Charge

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 6 February 2003, ref. 95029, if he will establish a dedicated hotline so that the public can inform his Department of their experiences gained from road user charging schemes in London and Durham.

David Jamieson: This is a matter for the relevant charging authority.

Congestion Charge

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 6 February 2003, ref. 95029, by what means he intends to obtain information about experiences gained from road user charging schemes in London and Durham.

David Jamieson: As well as views sent direct to Ministers we will carefully consider all the various monitoring and evaluation reports being planned. In Durham an agreement between the County Council and DfT requires detailed monitoring of the scheme including the effects on traffic, the impact on the peninsular etc. In London TfL will be monitoring and assessing traffic, public transport, social, environmental and economic indicators. I also understand that the Association of London Government and Westminster Council and others will be assessing the schemes.

Cycling

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department will take steps to (a) raise awareness among all road users of the purpose of advanced stop lines (ASLs) for cyclists, (b) educate all road users on their correct use and (c) publicise the legally enforceable nature of those facilities; and what steps he will take to ensure that ASLs are enforced.

David Jamieson: Advanced stop lines are dealt with in rules 55 and 154 of the Highway Code. The Traffic Signs Regulations 2002 and DfT Circular 02/2003 clarify that all vehicles are required to stop at the first stop line unless they have already proceeded beyond it or are a pedal cycle proceeding in the cycle lane. This information is already available on the Department's Traffic Signs website and will be included in a leaflet we are publishing about new signs and changes in the meaning of existing signs. Enforcement is the responsibility of the police.

Delivery Unit

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  which announcements made by his Department since June 2001 were cleared in advance with the Delivery Unit;
	(2)  if he will list the reports he has made since June 2001 to the Delivery Unit:
	(3)  which Ministers and officials from his Department have visited areas outside London accompanied by members of the Delivery Unit;
	(4)  when the Permanent Secretary in his Department last met members of the Delivery Unit;
	(5)  what targets have been set for his Department by the Delivery Unit since June 2001; and what progress has been made in meeting such targets;
	(6)  when Ministers from his Department last met members of the Delivery Unit; and on how many occasions since its establishment Ministers have met members of the Unit;
	(7)  how many reports his Department has been commissioned to produce by the Delivery Unit in the next (a) 12 and (b) 24 months;
	(8)  how many officials in his Department have been assigned to do specific work (a) with and (b) for the Delivery Unit since June 2001;
	(9)  when Ministers from his Department last met (a) the Prime Minister and (b) his officials to discuss targets set by the Delivery Unit; and what plans there are for further meetings.

David Jamieson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is responsible for meeting the Department's Public Service Agreement targets set out Cm 5571, copies of which are in the Libraries of the House.
	The Delivery Unit was established to strengthen the capacity of Whitehall to deliver the Government's key objectives. It works closely with us to help us deliver our PSA targets, and we are in regular contact with members of the Unit.
	Information about internal meetings is not disclosed under Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Disabled Parking

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to review the criteria for awarding Blue Parking Badges to disabled people; what assessment he has made of the exclusion of Thalidomide sufferers from the awarding of Blue Parking Badges; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: A review of the Blue Badge Scheme has recently been concluded. The review considered all aspects of the scheme, including the eligibility criteria. Following initial discussions with the main stakeholders, a discussion paper was drawn up and comments were invited through a major public consultation exercise. Formal representations were made by the Thalidomide Trust and their views were given due consideration during the review process.
	The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC, the Department's statutory advisers on the transport needs of disabled people) were asked to look at the responses received and to submit their recommendations to Ministers. I announced in the House on 18 December 2002 that the Government would be taking forward the majority of these recommendations as soon as possible.
	Eligibility for the Blue Badge will remain unchanged. This means that it will continue to be available to those disabled people who are unable or virtually unable to walk and to those with severe upper limb disabilities. Many people whose disability is the result of Thalidomide already qualify under one or other of these criteria.

Industrial Action/Illness

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many working days have been lost in his Department and its predecessors due to (a) industrial action and (b) illness in (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99, (iii) 1999–2000, (iv) 2000–01, (v) 2001–02 and (vi) 2002–03.

David Jamieson: The Department for Transport was established following machinery of Government changes in May 2002.
	No working days have been lost due to industrial action during the specified periods.
	In respect of sickness absence, the most recent 'Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil service' was published by the Cabinet office and announced by Ministerial Statement on 19 December 2002. Copies were placed in the Libraries of the House. This covered the calendar year 2001 for the predecessor Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions and its executive agencies. Previous reports go back to 1996. Figures for 2002 will be announced in due course.

Level Crossings

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the trunk roads in England that are crossed by a rail level crossing.

David Jamieson: There are 10 trunk roads in England that are crossed by a rail level crossing:
	A5 Gobowen (Oswestry);
	A27 Beddingham;
	A47 Wisbech;
	A49 Onibury;
	A63 Thorpe Willoughby;
	A249 Sheerness;
	A259 Star Crossing;
	A259 Brooklands (Thrift) Crossing;
	A259 Guldeford Crossing; and
	A483 Maesbury.

M25

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answers of 17 December 2002, Official Report, column 684W, and 20 January 2003, Official Report, column 41W, on the M25, what his policy is on the provision for inspection by hon. Members of the full data and analysis produced by those Government-funded reports, the summary of which the Government publish; and for what reason hon. Members were unable to inspect the full data and analysis of the initial assessment by the Transport Research Laboratory of the Controlled Motorway Project on the M25 between 1997 and January 2003.

David Jamieson: My Department's policy covering this issue, which was introduced on 30 November 2002, is that final project reports arising from commissioned projects are made available, except in those cases where the Department has not secured the rights to publish. Any information that addresses issues of national security, commercial or personal confidentiality will be excluded. Notices, strategies and the Executive Summaries of final research project reports will be published on the DfT website at: www.dft.gov.uk Full research reports may also be published on the website or will be available through contacts identified on the website.
	The full report on the assessment of the controlled motorway project on the M25 is expected to be placed in the Libraries of the House in late autumn 2003, as stated in my answer of 17 December 2002 to the hon. Member. As such it is not possible to make this available until that date.
	A previous report was made available on request following my answer of 20 January 2003 to the hon. Member. Other reports and data which have not been published can be made available and I have asked the Highways Agency to contact the hon. Member as there is a considerable volume of data involved.

Motorway Signs

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's policy and practice is on the use of electronic information signs on motorways.

John Spellar: Variable Message Signs, on England's motorway and other trunk road network, are used to assist the police with local incident management and to advise drivers of strategic long distance diversions. Long distance diversions are selected from recommended strategies agreed with all involved parties.
	Variable Message Signs are currently operated under a policy and procedures document jointly agreed by the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Highways Agency.
	Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Motorway Signs

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will display alternative route information on electronic information signs on motorways, whenever a motorway closure occurs.

John Spellar: The new National Traffic Control Centre (a 10-year private finance initiative contract awarded by the Highways Agency in 2001 to Traffic Information Services) will, from early 2004, offer real time advice to motorists using variable message signs sited at strategic positions around the motorways and other trunk road network.
	Alternative route advice will be given when both (a) a suitable route with sufficient capacity to take extra traffic is available, and (b) when signs are available to convey the information.

Online Sales/Purchases

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) products, (b) goods and (c) services were (i) bought and (ii) sold online by his Department in each of the last five years.

David Jamieson: The Department buys the following commodities online:
	
		
			 Commodity 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Travel Tickets — — — Yes Yes 
			 IT Equipment — — — Yes Yes 
			 IT Consumables — — — Yes Yes 
			 Stationery — — — Yes Yes 
			 Books Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 
			 Periodicals Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 
		
	
	The Department sells the following services online:
	
		
			 Service 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Driving Theory Test — — Yes Yes Yes

Rail Services (Bedfordshire)

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 7 January 2003, Official Report, columns 105–06W, on Sandy-Bedford rail link, what estimate he has made of the levels of (a) lottery grant, (b) landfill grant and (c) other public money that would need to be made available to (i) bring into operation and (ii) maintain (A) the Sandy-Bedford Rail link and (B) the Bedford-Milton Keynes canal link.

David Jamieson: The London to South Midlands Multi-modal Study issued its report on 4 February 2003. Copies will shortly be placed in the Libraries of the House. The regional planning bodies in the study area will now consider the recommendations, over the next few months. They will be consulting key stakeholders and the general public on the measures identified.

Railways (External Consultants)

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total value was of (a) technical and financial contracts, (b) technical consultants used on a call-off basis and (c) financial consultants used on a call-off basis by (i) the Rail Delivery Directorate, (ii) the Railways Restructuring Directorate and (iii) other directorates within his Department carrying out work relating to the railways, in each year since 1992.

David Jamieson: The following table gives expenditure by this Department and its predecessors on all rail consultancies since 1992–93.
	
		
			  £ million(9),(10) 
		
		
			 1992–93 6 
			 1993–94 12 
			 1994–95 17 
			 1995–96 13 
			 1996–97 9 
			 1997–98 2 
			 1998–99 10 
			 1999–2000 7 
			 2000–01 6 
			 2001–02 15 
			 2002–03(11) 24 
		
	
	(9) Rounded to nearest million
	(10) Cash prices
	(11) Estimate
	It is believed that only a very small proportion of this expenditure relates to call-off contracts. The figures include expenditure on contracts for legal and other advice. The majority of the increase in expenditure in 2001–02 and 2002–03 is due to the costs of advice relating to Railtrack's administration.

Road Freight

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the amount of freight he expects to travel by road rather than rail as a result of the withdrawal of (a) freight facilities grants and (b) track access grants.

David Jamieson: Freight facilities grants and track access grants have not been withdrawn. New applications have been suspended temporarily by the Strategic Rail Authority. Grants already agreed will continue to be honoured. Expenditure on freight grants is expected to be in the order of £40 million in 2003–04.

Road Schemes

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the road schemes (a) approved and (b) provisionally approved in (i) the targeted programme of improvements, (ii) multi-modal studies and (iii) the local transport settlements between 1997 to 2002, where the primary objective is economic regeneration.

David Jamieson: The information is in the following table. We have, in total, added 72 schemes to the targeted programme of improvements and approved or provisionally approved 87 local transport schemes between 1997 and 2002, many of which will also promote economic regeneration although that may not be the primary objective.
	
		All major road schemes where the primary objective is economic regeneration—targeted programme of improvements—accepted and provisionally accepted LTP road schemes
		
			  Road schemes 
		
		
			  
			 North East  
			 Trunk  
			 A66 Long Newton Junction 
			   
			 Local  
			 Darlington Darlington Eastern Transport Corridor 
			 Middlesbrough North Middlesbrough Accessibility Improvements 
			 Durham A19 Dawdon Link Road 
			 Durham Seaham Town Centre Link Road 
			   
			 North West  
			 Trunk  
			 M60 J 5–8 (formerly M63 J 6–9 Widening) 
			 M62 Junction 6 Improvement 
			 A74(M) Carlisle—Guardsmill upgrading to motorway 
			 A500 Basford, Hough, Shavington Bypass 
			 A595 Parton—Lillyhall Improvement 
			 A5117/A550 Deeside Park Junctions Improvement 
			   
			 Local  
			 Cumbria Carlisle Northern Development Route 
			   
			 Yorks/Humber  
			 Trunk  
			 A1033 Hedon Road Improvement, Hull 
			   
			 Local  
			 Barnsley Coalfields Link Road Phases 2 and 3 
			 West Yorks—Leeds East Leeds Link Road 
			 South Yorks—Barnsley Cudworth Bp 
			 South Yorks—Sheffield Sheffield IRR Phase 2 
			 West Yorks—Wakefield Hemsworth—A1 Link 
			 West Yorks—Wakefield Glasshoughton Link Road 
			   
			 East Midlands  
			 Trunk  
			 A46 Newark-Lincoln Improvement (03/04) 
			   
			 Local  
			 Nottinghamshire A617 Mansfield Ashfield Reg. Route 
			 Derbyshire Markham Employment Growth Zone (MEGZ) 
			 Northamptonshire A43 Corby Link Road 
			   
			 West Midlands  
			 Trunk  
			 A5 Weeford-Fazeley Improvement 
			 A500 City Road/Stoke Road Junctions 
			   
			 Local  
			 Staffordshire Biddulph Bp 
			 Birmingham A3 8 Selly Oak Link Road 
			 Staffordshire Rugeley Bp 
			 Stoke Hanley-Bentilee Link 
			 WM—Birmingham A3 8 Northfield Regeneration Scheme 
			 WM—Sandwell Cradley Heath Town Centre 
			   
			 Eastern  
			 Trunk  
			 A11 Roudham Heath-Attleborough Dualling 
			 A11 Fiveways to Thetford Improvement 
			 A120 Stansted-Braintree 
			   
			 Local  
			 Luton East Luton Corridor 
			 Norfolk Nar-Ouse Regeneration Project—King's Lynn 
			 Thurrock West Thurrock Riverside Regeneration Scheme 
			 South East  
			 Trunk  
			 M25 J 12–15 Widening 
			 A2 Bean-Cobham Widening Phase 1 
			 A2 Bean-Cobham Widening Phase 2 
			 A2/A282 Dartford Improvement 
			 A27 Polegate Bypass (open) 
			 A34 Chieveley/M4 J13 Improvement 
			 A249 Iwade—Queenborough Improvement 
			   
			 Local  
			 Kent East Kent Access Phase 1 
			 Milton Keynes Bletchley Link 
			   
			 South West  
			 Trunk  
			 A30 Bodmin-Indian Queens Improvement 
			   
			 Local  
			 Cornwall A39 Camelford Bp 
			 Poole Poole Harbour Bridge

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Communications Bill

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport during the Committee Stage of the Communications Bill, how many (a) clauses and (b) schedules were (i) fully debated, (ii) partly debated and (iii) not debated.

Kim Howells: In its debates on the Communications Bill, Standing Committee E sat for 65 hours over 26 sittings. The original programme resolution for the Committee's proceedings was agreed by the Programming Sub-Committee at its meeting on 9 December 2002. This was approved without division at the beginning of the Committee's first session on 10 December 2002.
	On two occasions during the Bill's passage through Committee, Programming Sub-Committee resolutions to move knives were agreed. This enabled hon. Members to focus on clauses of the Bill that they felt merited more detailed discussion. As a result of the agreed programme, the knives led to 101 clauses and five Schedules being moved forthwith by the Chair. It is worth noting, however, that, just because a clause was not reached by the Committee, it does not mean that substantive points on that clause were not raised and debated in full during earlier debates.

Domestic Violence

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to increase awareness of domestic violence in the British media.

Kim Howells: None.

National Lottery

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the level of ticket sales of the National Lottery.

Richard Caborn: The National Lottery Commission have stated that ticket sales, since the start of the lottery to 9 February 2003, are £40.8 billion.

National Lottery

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of National Lottery charitable contributions have been spent on cancer-related groups.

Richard Caborn: The Community Fund has made 188 grants to the value of £13,516,037 to organisations directly involved in work relating to cancer. The Fund has awarded a further £23,651,116 to hospices whose client group will include people with cancer.
	In total, therefore, £37,167,153 or 1.51 per cent. of total Community Fund grants (£2,458 million) has been awarded to projects relating to the care of those with some form of cancer.
	In addition, £84 million is available from the New Opportunities Fund for projects that provide effective palliative care and support and information services for
	children and adults suffering from cancer and other life threatening conditions.

National Lottery

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the operation of the National Lottery franchise.

Richard Caborn: Since the launch of the National Lottery, £13.9 billion has been raised for the good causes. Camelot was awarded the second licence as operator of the National Lottery in January 2002. The National Lottery Commission continues to have the duty to ensure that the National Lottery is properly run and that players are protected, while maximising the money raised for the good causes. We published a consultation document last year about the way in which the Lottery might be run and regulated in future; and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State intends to announce our conclusions in due course.

Tourism

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the estimated marketing budget of the British Tourist Board is for the promotion of tourism in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) England.

Kim Howells: The British Tourist Authority is a cross-border body whose purpose is to market Britain overseas as an attractive tourist destination. It does not hypothecate funds for particular nations or regions of Britain, but promotes Britain as a whole in a way which maximises the impact of its campaigns in individual markets overseas.

Union Anniversary

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the union of England and Scotland in 2007.

Kim Howells: The UK Government have no plans at present to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Union of Scotland and England.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Child Care

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of children living in poverty live outside the 20 per cent. most disadvantaged wards; and how many of them have access to child care places.

Maria Eagle: In 1999, 34 per cent. of children aged 0–4 living in households in receipt of means tested benefits lived in wards other than the most disadvantaged 20 per cent. We do not collect data on access to child care places specifically for this group of children. Local authorities' 2002–03 early years development and child care plans showed that, in April 2001, 12.3 places were available per hundred children aged 0–14 (or 0–16 with special educational needs) in wards other than the 20 per cent. most disadvantaged wards, higher than the 7.6 places per hundred children in the 20 per cent. most disadvantaged wards. Each early years development and child care plan includes targets to increase by March 2004 the number of child care places available both outside and within the 20 per cent. most disadvantaged wards.

Child Care

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent representations he has received from child care organisations regarding the provision of child care to lone parents.

Maria Eagle: holding answer 16 January 2003
	We receive representations from time to time on issues relating to child care and its role in enabling parents—particularly lone parents—to work, learn and study; and we discuss these matters as part of our ongoing partnership with child care organisations.
	As part of the recent interdepartmental review of child care, chaired by my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State responsible for Sure Start there was wide-ranging consultation with organisations with an interest in the issue.
	In addition, the National Council for One Parent Families is a member of the Sure Start Voluntary Sector Forum chaired by my noble Friend.

Child Minders

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many full-time child minders there were in England in each year since 1997.

Maria Eagle: The available figures on the number of registered child minders are as follows.
	
		Number of child minders for children under eight—England—1997–2001
		
			 As at 31 March Total 
		
		
			 1997 98,500 
			 1998 94,700 
			 1999 82,200 
			 2000 75,600 
			 2001 72,300 
		
	
	Note:
	These figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.
	These figures were published in Statistical Bulletin 08/01 "Children's Day Care Facilities at 31 March 2001", a copy of which is available from the Library. An electronic copy of the bulletin is available on the Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/statistics.
	During the period 1997 to 2001 total child care places have increased. The returns from local authorities have shown year on year increases in the numbers of day nurseries, out of school clubs and holiday schemes. However, the numbers of playgroups and child minders have been declining. Many playgroups are converting to full day care and this means that they are re-classified as day nurseries rather than playgroups. The Department is encouraging this conversion by offering assistance to playgroups to extend their services to full day care in order to meet more parents' needs.

Higher Education Funding

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of funding to higher education institutions comes from (a) student contributions, (b) LEA funding and (c) foreign student fees across (i) all higher education institutions and (ii) each individual university in England.

Margaret Hodge: The information is in tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library. Fee income from local authorities and individual students cannot be separately identified but are included in the "Student Loans Company/Local Education Authority/Student Awards Agency for Scotland/Department for Education Learning Northern Ireland" and "Other" categories respectively. As well as individual student tuition fee contributions, the "Other" category will include fee income from Research Councils, other Government Departments, overseas organisations, and UK industry and commerce.

SCOTLAND

Air Quality

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 
	(1)  which local authorities in Scotland have completed ambient air quality (a) assessment and (b) plans;
	(2)  what measures she is taking to assist local authorities in Scotland in adopting ambient air quality plans.

Helen Liddell: Both local government and air quality are devolved matters, and are the responsibility of the Scottish Executive.

Air Quality

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 
	(1)  what annual emission of (a) NOx, (b) SOx and (c) CO2 was recorded for each Scottish airport in the last available year, classified by (i) aviation emissions, (ii) volume for each category of ground vehicle, (iii) type of power unit and (iv) type of fuel;
	(2)  what measures she is taking to encourage the British Airports Authority to introduce low emission vehicles in its Scottish airports; and what the outcome has been.

Helen Liddell: The management of BAA's vehicle fleet is an operational matter for the company. I understand that BAA has an air quality strategy which includes a commitment to assessing cleaner alternative fuels such as ULSD and LPG. The Government and the devolved administrations have in place a wide range of policies and programmes aimed at reducing gaseous emissions from vehicle fleets but there are no policies and programmes targeted specifically at airport operators.
	There is no official data collected on emissions of the specified substances from aircraft and ground vehicles at airports.

Paper Suppliers

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland who the suppliers are of her Department's (a) paper and (b) paper products.

Helen Liddell: My Department obtains its paper and paper products from the following suppliers: Glenmore Business Paper, Banner Business Supplies and Astron Document Services.

Child Poverty

David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans she has to reduce child poverty in Scotland; and if she will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The Government are taking a number of measures to tackle poverty in Scotland, including the National Minimum Wage; the New Deal and the new Tax Credits. We are committed to abolishing child poverty in a generation and to halving it by 2010. The action taken by the Government to tackle poverty and social exclusion is outlined in our fourth "Opportunity for All" report. Progress is monitored against a wide range of indicators. The Scottish Executive also produce a Social Justice Annual Report.

Hedgehogs (Outer Hebrides)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with representatives of Scottish National Heritage regarding hedgehog numbers in the Outer Hebrides; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Liddell: Nature conservation matters are devolved to the Scottish Parliament, and Scottish Natural Heritage gives advice to Scottish Executive Ministers.

Poverty

David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what her latest estimate is of how many (a) pensioners, (b) children and (c) other people are living in poverty in each constituency in Scotland.

Anne McGuire: Poverty is a complex multi-dimensional problem. "Opportunity for All" sets out the Government's strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and presents the latest information on the indicators used to monitor progress. The Scottish Executive's strategy is contained in their Social Justice Annual Report. The data sources which the Government and the Executive use for income analysis are the Family Resources Survey and Households Below Average Income. The sample sizes are not large enough to allow analysis below the all-Scotland level.

Sewel Convention

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions the Sewel convention has been invoked since the inception of the Scottish Parliament; and on how many occasions the convention was invoked at the initiative of (a) the Scottish Executive and (b) the UK Government.

Helen Liddell: The Memorandum of Understanding indicates there will be consultation with the Scottish Executive on policy proposals affecting devolved matters whether or not they involve legislative change. In practice, this means that there is ongoing dialogue between the Scottish Executive and Government Departments, including the Scotland Office. For this reason it is impossible to determine at whose initiative discussions about the use of the Sewell convention begin, as they usually take place in the context of wider and on-going discussions.
	As a matter of principle, either the Government or the Scottish Executive can take the initiative in establishing whether Sewel consent is needed. It is for the Scottish Executive to indicate the view of the Scottish Parliament and to take whatever steps are appropriate to ascertain that view. The Scottish Parliament has agreed to 39 Sewell motions since its inception.

Telephone Helplines

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many telephone helplines are sponsored by her Department; and which of these helplines are charged at (a) national rate, (b) premium rate and (c) local rate.

Helen Liddell: No telephone helplines are sponsored by my Department.

Union Anniversary

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans she has to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the union of England and Scotland in 2007.

Helen Liddell: The Scottish Executive has established an advisory group on which my Department is represented, initially to review the plans to commemorate the Union of the Crowns, but in due course, to consider other important historical dates such as the Union of Parliaments.

Union Anniversary

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans she has to host celebrations on the anniversary of the Union of the Crowns.

Helen Liddell: My Department is represented on the advisory group established by the First Minister to review plans to commemorate the Union of the Crowns. We will await their recommendations before deciding the role Ministers might play.

Vehicle Fleet

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 
	(1)  what progress has been made, by (a) volume and (b) percentage for each (i) category of vehicle, (ii) type of power unit and (iii) type of fuel, in each of the past three years, in renewal of her Department's vehicle fleet on a lower emission basis;
	(2)  what the annual rate has been at which her Department renewed its vehicle fleet by (a) volume and (b) percentage for each (i) category of vehicle, (ii) type of power unit and (iii) type of fuel over the last three years.

Helen Liddell: My Department does not have a vehicle fleet.

PRIVY COUNCIL

Mileage Allowance

Norman Baker: To ask the President of the Council what total number of miles was claimed by hon. Members under the mileage allowance scheme in each year since 1997, broken down by journeys to and from (a) their constituency and London, (b) their homes and London and (c) other places; and what the total cost was in each year since 1997.

Robin Cook: I regret that information is not available in the form requested, and could be prepared only at disproportionate cost.
	However, the Department of Finance and Administration records the total payments made each year for Members' car mileage. Figures are available for payments made in respect of car travel undertaken in each of the last three financial years. The totals are as follows:
	
		£ million
		
			 Year  
		
		
			  
			  
			 1999–2000 3.85 
			 2000–01 4.1 
			 2001–02 3.85 
		
	
	Note:
	These figures exclude car journeys undertaken as part of European travel.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Animal Experiments

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the banning of the use of wild caught primates in experiments.

Bob Ainsworth: In addition to the stringent requirements in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 regarding the use of non-human primates, the use of wild-caught non-human primates in scientific experiments is subject to supplementary additional considerations.
	We announced in 1997 that we cannot foresee any circumstances under which we would be prepared to issue licences under the 1986 Act for programmes of work involving the use of Great Apes (chimpanzees, pygmy chimpanzees, gorillas and orang-utans), and that exceptional justification would be required for the licensed use of other types of non-human primates taken from the wild.
	The 1986 Act provides that non-human primates, whether captive bred or wild-caught, can only be used when no other species are suitable for the purposes of the programme to be specified in the licence, or that it is not practicable to obtain animals of any other species that are suitable for those purposes. For the use of wild-caught primates to be exceptionally authorised, there must be no appropriate alternative, no suitable captive-bred animals available and the likely benefits of the programme of work would have to fully justify their use.
	In respect of applications to use wild-caught non-human primates, the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate and the Animal Procedures Committee provide advice on a case by case basis on whether and on what terms such use should be licensed. Application of these stringent criteria has meant that first time use of wild-caught non-human primates in scientific procedures has not been licensed in the UK for some years.

Ashfield Young Offenders Institution

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the (a) young offenders and (b) remand inmates housed at Ashfield are from Wales; to which young offenders institutions they will go; and how far those institutions are from Wales.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 10 February 2003
	On 6 February 2003, the total population of Ashfield was 219. Of this 219, four (or two per cent.) were unsentenced juveniles who came from Wales. 87 (or 40 per cent.) were sentenced juvenile prisoners whose area of origin was Wales.
	The allocation of juvenile prisoners to Ashfield is under review. Whatever the outcome of the review, every effort will be made to ensure that the allocated location is appropriate to the individual prisoner's needs. This will include keeping the distance from the allocated establishment to their home area to a minimum, and that all necessary child protection issues are taken into consideration at the time of allocation.

Asylum Seekers

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers with HIV/AIDS have been refused support as a result of not claiming asylum on arrival at UK ports of entry since 8 January.

Beverley Hughes: Information of this nature is not collected about asylum claimants.

Asylum Seekers

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that asylum claimants are made aware of the consequences of a failure to claim asylum at ports of entry immediately on arrival in the UK.

Beverley Hughes: In order to provide advance publicity of the implementation of Section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 I made a Ministerial Statement on 28 November 2002, with a press release being issued on the same day. The press release was also issued to the foreign media in the United Kingdom and to the media in countries where we receive a high number of asylum applicants. A further press release was issued on 7 January 2003 and this resulted in further in-depth and comprehensive media coverage within the United Kingdom.
	In addition, since 10 December 2002, posters advertising the change in policy have been displayed in arrival halls at major ports and airports. Further copies have also been displayed in the voluntary sector offices such as Migrant Helpline and the Refugee Arrivals Project.

Asylum Seekers

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum in this country have been received from (a) single Afghan males, (b) Afghan females and (c) Afghan families since November 2001.

Beverley Hughes: The numbers of Afghan single male, female and family asylum applications since November 2001 are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The total number of applications from Afghans (excluding dependants) since November 2001 is given in the table.
	
		Asylum applications(12) received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, by month, nationals of Afghanistan 
		
			  Applications 
			  Total Port In Country 
		
		
			 2001
			 November 680 135 545 
			 December 705 145 560 
			 
			 2002
			 January 860 195 660 
			 February 770 150 620 
			 March 720 165 560 
			 April 875 115 765 
			 May 750 115 635 
			 June 500 135 365 
			 July 565 170 395 
			 August 445 90 355 
			 September 540 155 390 
			 Total 7,420 1,570 5,850 
		
	
	(12) Provisional figures rounded to nearest five, with '*' = 1 or 2
	Information on asylum applications by age and sex are published annually. In 2001, excluding dependants, there were 8,450 asylum applications from Afghan males, and 550 from Afghan females. The 2001 Asylum Statistics Bulletin is available from the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html. The 2002 Bulletin will be available later this year.

Asylum Seekers

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many people were (a) removed and (b) deported from the UK in each year since 1990; and how many of each category were asylum seekers;
	(2)  how many asylum seekers were forcibly removed or deported from the UK in each year since 1990.

Beverley Hughes: Data on the number of persons removed from the United Kingdom in each year from 1990 to 2001 are given in the attached table. With the exception of those persons leaving under the Assisted Voluntary Returns Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration all removals are as a result of action taken by the Immigration service and as such can be regarded as enforced.
	A breakdown of total removals in 2002 is not yet available but is due to be published on the Home Office web-site later in the year in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin "Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 2002".
	www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html
	The latest available data show that 7,780 principal asylum applicants and 1,825 dependants were removed in the period January to September 2002. Data for October to December 2002 are due to be published at the end of February on the Home Office website.
	
		Persons removed from the United Kingdom and those subject to enforcement action(13)1990 to 2001 (United Kingdom) -- Number of persons
		
			  1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 
		
		
			 Type of removal   
			 Persons refused entry at port and subsequently removed 19,180 18,270 14,950 16,740 17,220 19,150 
			 Of whom: principal asylum applicants(14) N/a N/a 960 1,240 1,350 1,880 
			 Of whom: non-asylum cases(15) N/a N/a 13,990 15,500 15,870 17,270 
			 Principal asylum applicants leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes(18) — — — — — — 
			 Persons removed as a result of enforcement action(16),(17) 4,280 5,800 6,210 6,080 5,210 5,080 
			 Of whom: principal asylum applicants(14) N/a N/a 390 580 870 1,290 
			 Of whom: non-asylum cases N/a N/a 5,820 5,500 4,340 3,790 
			 Of which:   
			 Deportation action (20),(21) 1,940 2,620 2,580 2,280 1,920 1,920 
			 Of whom: principal asylum applicants(14) N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 2,20 
			 Of whom: non-asylum cases N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 1,700 
			 Total persons removed(16) 23,460 24,070 21,160 22,820 22,430 24,230 
			 Of whom: principal asylum applicants(14) N/a N/a 1,350 1,820 2,220 3,170 
			 Of whom: non-asylum cases(15) N/a N/a 19,820 21,000 20,210 21,060 
		
	
	
		
			  1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 (R) 2001 (P) 
		
		
			 Type of removal  
			 Persons refused entry at port and subsequently removed 21,200 24,535 27,605 31,295 38,275 37,865 
			 Of whom: principal asylum applicants(14) 2,700 4,105 3,540 4,860 5,440 4,175 
			 Of whom: non-asylum cases(15) 18,510 20,430 24,065 26,435 32,835 33,690 
			 Principal asylum applicants leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes(18) — — — 50 550 980 
			 Persons removed as a result of enforcement action(16),(17) 5,460 6,610 7,315 6,440 7,820 10,290 
			 Of whom: principal asylum applicants(14) 2,130 3,060 3,450 2,755 2,990 4,130 
			 Of whom: non-asylum cases 3,340 3,3,550 3,865 3,680 4,830 6,160 
			 Of which:   
			 Deportation action(20),(21) 2,000 2,070 1,730 1,210 1,280 450 
			 Of whom: principal asylum applicants(14) 400 455 350 140 145 85 
			 Of whom: non-asylum cases 1,600 1,615 1,380 1,075 1,140 365 
			 Total persons removed(16) 26,660 31,145 34,920 37,780 46,645 49,135 
			 Of whom: principal asylum applicants(14) 4,820 7,165 6,990 7,665 8,980 9,285 
			 Of whom: non-asylum cases(15) 21,840 23,980 27,930 30,120 37,665 39,850 
		
	
	(13) Under section 3.5, 3.6 or 33.1 of the immigration Act 1971, or under section 10 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
	(14) Persons who had sought asylum at some stage, excluding dependants. Removal figures exclude 1,495 dependants of asylum seekers removed in the period April to December 2001; data on dependants removed have only been collected since April 2001.
	(15) Figures up to March 2001 may include a small number of dependants of port principal asylum applicants removed.
	(16) Including persons known to have departed 'voluntarily' after enforcement action had been initiated against them.
	(17) Excludes Assisted Voluntary Returns. Figures exclude 185 accompanying dependants leaving between April 2000 and March 2001.
	(18) Persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the international Organisation for Migration. May include some on-entry cases and some cases where enforcement action has been initiated.
	(19) Illegal entrants detected and persons issued with a notice of intention to deport, recommended for deportation by a court or proceeded against under Section 10.
	(20) Deportation figures may be under-recorded in 1999 and 2000. 2001 figure may exclude some persons recommended for deportation by a court.
	(21) Figures for 2001 have been estimated.

Child Protection

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many National Hi-Tech Crime Unit staff will (a) be dedicated to the policing of internet chatrooms, (b) have the priority of protection of children on the internet and (c) have specific training in dealing with child protection law; and what the framework for liaison between the internet crime squad child protection team and other police units will be.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 12 February 2003
	We set up the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit (NHTCU) as part of the National Crime Squad to combat national and transnational hi-tech crime within or which impacts upon the UK.This includes investigation of hacking, virus writing, extortion, fraud, drug trafficking and organised paedophilia.
	Their organised paedophilia targets include paedophile rings operating within the internet who display a hierarchical structure, a high level of technical ability, the use of strong encryption, a knowledge of law enforcement techniques and international in nature. It also includes those persons profiting from the commercial exploitation of on line child abuse, through the provision of pay for view child pornography.
	This specific technical role augments the policing provision for child protection by the National Crime Squad, National Criminal Intelligence Service and forces.
	(a) Officers from the NHTCU are not routinely deployed to monitor internet chatrooms. This activity may occur in response to specific intelligence concerning a paedophile ring operating within a chatroom environment, or as part of an existing investigation.
	(b) Approximately 25 per cent of NHTCU resources are engaged in the investigation of child abuse on-line. This equates to ten members of law enforcement and support staff encompassing intelligence, investigation and forensic examination roles.
	(c) NHTCU investigators have received training from clinical psychologists in relation to the investigation of offences of child abuse on line. Any child identified at risk during the course of an investigation is immediately referred to the child protection team in the force where a victim lives.
	The NHTCU does not have a specific child protection team, however, it is represented on both the national police strategic and tactical tasking and co-ordinating groups who receive intelligence concerning child abuse on line. Through these for a the NHTCU are linked to the 43 police forces in England and Wales, the National Criminal Intelligence Service, and international law enforcement.

Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have, as a result of breaching a community order, been deprived of any benefit to which they are entitled, or had the amount of such benefit reduced, pursuant to sections 62 to 66 of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000; and when the sections will come into force in relation to all courts in England and Wales.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	The community sentence and benefits measures aim to encourage greater compliance with community orders. Therefore sanctions only apply when people receiving the relevant benefit do not comply with their orders. The provisions were introduced in four pilot areas from 15 October 2001. A full and independent evaluation is being conducted which will inform any decision on future national implementation.
	As at 15 January 2003, the cost to the Department of administering the Community Sentences and Benefits pilots running in four Probation Service areas was £403,736, of which approximately £262,000 relates to one-off start-up costs, including changes to the national computer systems.
	Information on the total money withheld as a result of benefit sanctions following a breach of community order is not available. Information of the number of people who have lost benefit as a result of breaching their community orders, and the average weekly loss of benefit, is in the table. The figures for the average loss of weekly benefit should be used only as a guide to loss of benefit for individual offenders.
	
		
			 Benefit Number of individuals Average weekly loss of benefit (£) 
		
		
			 Income Support 230 15.28 
			 Jobseeker's Allowance 320 (22)48.29 
			 Total 550 — 
		
	
	(22) After having a sanction imposed, 90 people have made successful hardship claims. This reduces the amount of benefit they have lost If these hardship claims are taken into account the average overall reduction in benefit is £33.19 per person per week.
	Notes:
	1. Data are based on clerical returns received at the DWP Information Centre by 13 January 2003, and relate to the period from 15 October 2001 to 6 December 2002.
	2. Average weekly loss of benefit has been calculated on an individual recipient basis using the Jobseeker's Allowance payment system (JSAPS) and the income support computer system (ISCS).
	3. There are four probation service pilot areas, Derbyshire, Hertfordshire, Teesside and West Midlands.
	Source:
	DWP Information Centre: CS Stats forms 1 and 2 (Withdrawal of Benefits Pilot).

Correspondence

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reasons the hon. Member for Yeovil has yet to receive a reply to his letter of 1 December 2002 to the Chief Executive of the Immigration and Nationality Department in relation to the Home Office Reference S1153646; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate has no trace of receiving the hon. Member's letter. On 11 February 2003 he was asked that if he wished to supply a copy of his original letter, a reply would be sent to him as soon as possible. In any event, on 31 January 2003, in reply to a later letter dated 18 December 2002, he was informed that a decision had been reached in this case.

Criminal Injuries Compensation Board

Keith Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total budget for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board is for the financial year 2002–03; how much has been paid in compensation in each month of this financial year to date; and how much has been offered in compensation in each month but not yet paid out.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 30 January 2003
	Under the regime of resource accounting introduced by the Government in April 2001, Departments now account for their expenditure in terms of when resources are consumed, rather than when cash is paid. Thus, the Department now budgets for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme in terms of the amount of compensation committed in any particular year rather than simply the amount of cash expended in that year.
	In 2002–03 the resource budget for compensation payable under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme was £183.264 million. An additional budget for scheme administration costs was £29.82 million.
	The amount of money paid in compensation by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority in each month of 2002–03 to date is:
	
		£ million
		
			 Month Compensation Paid 
		
		
			 April 27.2 
			 May 27.4 
			 June 18.3 
			 July 15.5 
			 August 18.5 
			 September 14.3 
			 October 15.7 
			 November 22.5 
			 December 15.3 
		
	
	Some £54 million of these payments related to awards offered in 2001–02 which score against the resource budget for that year.
	It is not readily possible to say how much was offered in each month of the current financial year but not yet paid out because, for example, some applicants decide to appeal against the award offered. However, as at 31 December 2002, some £2.4 million worth of awards was due to be paid within 28 days, awards on offer amounted to £26.3 million, and other contingent liabilities amounted to £6.9 million.

Criminal Justice Policy Unit

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statistics are to be collected by the Criminal Justice Policy Unit; in what form; and how frequently information so obtained will be published.

Hilary Benn: The Criminal Justice Joint Planning Unit has been reformed into the Criminal Justice Local Performance and Delivery Unit, and the Criminal Justice Strategic Planning and Analysis Unit. Neither unit collects statistics, but they will collate and disseminate statistics on performance-related issues to local criminal justice boards. The local criminal justice boards will publish information on their performance in their annual reports to their communities.

Deportations

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 27 January 2003, Official Report, column 701W, on deportations, if he will list, of the 634 who were deported during 2002 on completion of a custodial sentence, the offences they were convicted for and which country of origin they were returned to.

Beverley Hughes: The additional information requested is not available.

Firearms

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ban the import and sale of (a) replica, (b) blank-firing and (c) deactivated guns.

Bob Ainsworth: We propose to introduce a new offence of possessing an imitation firearm in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable excuse. The police will be able to arrest anybody committing such an offence and to seize the articles involved. Any blank-firing or imitation pistol which can be readily converted to fire live ammunition is already regarded as a prohibited weapon. We have no plans to ban the sale or importation of guns which are not readily converted.

Independent Appellate Tribunal Judgment

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department received notification from the Independent Appellate Tribunal of its decision to reject the Home Office's appeal to the Tribunal in the case of Mrs. T. B. (TH/22817/2001; B1010649); when he intends to notify Mrs. T. B.'s representatives of the arrangements for her to collect her visa; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The Home Office received the Immigration Appellate Tribunal's decision to refuse to grant the Secretary of State's application for Leave to Appeal to the Tribunal on 29 November 2002. The Home Office has now notified the High Commission in Islamabad of the outcome of the appeal. It is now the responsibility of the Entry Clearance Officer to notify Mrs. Begum of any decision to grant in the spirit of the Adjudicator's determination.
	I apologise for the delay in notifying the High Commission. This was caused by an administrative error.

Murder Cases

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the report from Sussex police in 2002 on the problems with securing murder verdicts for parents or carers accused of murdering their children due to joint enterprise considerations.

Hilary Benn: I believe the hon. Member is referring to the report produced by Sussex police for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) as part of their recent conference 'which of you did it?' I understand that copies of the Conference Report, including the paper from Sussex police will be available from the NSPCC in the next few weeks and I will arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library.

Murder Cases

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to change the law for consideration of joint enterprise when pursuing murder cases against parents or carers accused of murdering their own children.

Hilary Benn: We accept that the law needs to be strengthened so that people jointly accused cannot evade justice by protecting each other. We are considering a number of possibilities in the light of recent work by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) and the Law Commission. These possibilities include procedural measures at court but we are also considering whether changes are needed to the substantive law.

Over-lenient Sentences

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend the power to appeal against over-lenient sentences to sentences for burglary.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 11 February 2003
	We are not looking to legislate for this since primary legislation would not be required, but we are willing to consider whether it would be desirable to add burglary to the Unduly Lenient Sentencing scheme by way of an Order. I have asked my officials to look further into the matter.
	This issue has been raised as an amendment in the Courts Bill during Committee Stage, and was debated on 11 February 2003.

Prisoner Suicides

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suicides have taken place in prisons in the Greater London area in each of the last three years.

Hilary Benn: The following table covers the 31 apparently self-inflicted deaths in the last three years.
	
		
			  2000 2001 2002 Total 
		
		
			 Belmarsh 1 0 1 2 
			 Brixton 2 2 2 6 
			 Feltham 1 1 0 2 
			 Holloway 1 1 1 3 
			 Latchmere House 0 0 0 0 
			 Pentonville 1 . 3 1 5 
			 Wandsworth 7 1 2 10 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 1 1 1 3 
			 Total 14 9 8 31 
		
	
	The general prison population contains a large number of prisoners with a combination of psychiatric disorders, alcohol and drug dependency, family background and relationship problems, histories of self-harm and previous abuse, all of which raise their risk of suicide and self-harm.Good care and support from staff saves many lives but such instances go largely unreported. The Prison Service's approach, in close partnership with other agencies such as the Youth Justice Board, and outside organisations such as Samaritans, is to better identify and support those who seem at greatest risk, with an approach that focuses on staff/prisoner relationships and the physical environment.
	The Prison Service is currently developing a new suicide prevention and self-harm reduction policy through a programme of projects that aim to improve pre-reception, reception and induction arrangements; the exchange of information; the care of prisoners; detoxification; prisoners supporting each other, and learning from investigations into deaths in custody.

Prisoners

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are (a) female and (b) male of pensionable age; and what percentage of the total prison population each sex represents.

Hilary Benn: On 31 December 2002, there were 26 females and 692 males of pensionable age (0.04 per cent. and 0.99 per cent. of the total male and female prison
	population respectively).

Prisons

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total (a) operational capacity and (b) population of prisons in England and Wales was in each year since 1973.

Hilary Benn: The information requested is in the following table. The table shows annual figures for population level and useable operational capacity at Prison Service establishments in England and Wales, from 1973 to 2002, where such figures are available.
	
		Total certified normal accommodation and population in Prison Service establishments from 1973–2002
		
			  Population Useable operational capacity 
		
		
			 2002 70,800 71,500 
			 2001 66,300 69,400 
			 2000 64,600 69,000 
			 1999 64,800 68,100 
			 1998 65,300 67,800 
			 1997 61,100 61,800 
			 1996 55,300 56,500 
			 1995 51,000 54,200 
			 1994 48,600 51,800 
			 1993 44,600 49,500 
			 1992 44,700 48,800 
			 1991 44,800 48,700 
			 1990 45,000 — 
			 1989 48,500 — 
			 1988 48,900 — 
			 1987 48,400 — 
			 1986 46,800 — 
			 1985 46,200 — 
			 1984 43,300 — 
			 1983 43,500 — 
			 1982 43,700 — 
			 1981 43,300 — 
			 1980 42,300 — 
			 1979 42,200 — 
			 1978 41,800 — 
			 1977 41,600 — 
			 1976 41,400 — 
			 1975 39,800 — 
			 1974 36,900 — 
			 1973 36,800 — 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. All figures rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. Population and useable operational capacity figures are annual averages. CNA figures are as at 30 June of each year. CNA figures pre-1980 are available only for the December of each year.
	3. In-use CNA: the uncrowded capacity of the estate after adjusting for accommodation out of use.
	4. Population figures exclude the numbers of prisoners held in police cells during that year. The averages are based on data for the last day of each month.
	5. Useable operational capacity: the measure used for long-term estate planning purposes. The maximum number of prisoners the estate could normally hold is up to 2,000 less than the totals certified operational capacity.

Sex Offenders

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women held in prisons in England and Wales are serving a life sentence for sexual offences.

Hilary Benn: The number of male prisoners serving life sentences for sexual offences on 30 November 2002 was 550. There were no female prisoners serving life sentences for sexual offences on 30 November 2002.

Student Visas

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his policy to remove from the UK students who do not comply with the immigration rules for students visas, particularly with regard to attendance records; and how many students have been removed from the UK in the last 12 months for failing to comply with any requirements based on attendance records.

Beverley Hughes: Students are required, under paragraph 57(ii) of the Immigration Rules (HC395), to attend classes regularly for a minimum of 15 hours' organised daytime study per week, unless circumstances such as illness prevent them from doing so.Where a student comes to the attention of the immigration authorities for low or non-attendance, without good reason, their leave would be subject to curtailment and they would be subsequently removed.
	A student is permitted to work for a maximum of 20 hours per week in term time, or full time vacation work. Where a student is found to be working but there are doubts about the quantity and quality of study, and it appears that his or her main purpose in being in the United Kingdom is to work rather than to study, administrative removal action may be taken on the grounds that they are not observing a condition attached to their leave.
	If it can be established that a person entered the United Kingdom as a student but had no intention of studying, he or she can be treated as an illegal entrant, having gained leave to enter by deception.
	Information on the number of student removals is not available.

Terrorist Attacks

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken by his Department to ensure the integration and training of (a) the armed forces, (b) the emergency services and (c) volunteer organisations in evacuation procedures in the event of an NBC terrorist attack on London.

Nick Raynsford: I have been asked to reply.
	I chair the London Resilience Cabinet Committee which overseas work to strengthen London's preparedness against terrorism. The London Resilience Committee reports to DOP(IT)(R)—which works to build the UK's resilience and ability to manage the consequences of major emergencies—and to the Civil Contingencies Committee which meets in times of crisis to mange the response. Since May 2002, a new strategic emergency planning regime has been in place in London, headed by the London Resilience Forum which I also chair, with the Mayor of London as my Deputy. Evacuation procedures are being fully considered in this context. Government departments and representatives of the emergency services, the military and key agencies are represented within these arrangements.
	The integration of volunteer organisations in response to civil emergencies of all kinds is co-ordinated through local authority emergency planning officers in accordance with the arrangements set out in the publication "Dealing With Disaster".

Vehicle Fleets

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the annual rate is at which his Department and its agencies renew their vehicle fleets, by (a) volume and percentage for each category of vehicle, (b) type of power unit and (c) type of fuel.

Hilary Benn: The policy guidelines for vehicle replacement are:
	
		
			 Vehicle Guidelines 
		
		
			 Petrol cars/light vans 85,000 miles or five years 
			 Diesel cars/light vans 120,000 miles or five years 
			 Vans and minibuses 90,000 miles or seven years 
			 Goods vehicles-7.5 tonnes 200,000 miles or 10 years 
			 Goods vehicles-10 tonnes 300,000 miles or 10 years and over 
			 Goods vehicles-16 tonnes 400,000 miles or 10 years and over 
			 Articulated units-38 tonnes 500,000 miles or 10 years 
		
	
	The fleet profile by type and percentage as at November 2002:
	
		
			 Vehicle Percentage 
		
		
			 Cars/car derived vans 42 
			 Off road vehicles 3 
			 Vans/minibuses 32 
			 Commercial vehicles 9 
			 Miscellaneous vehicles (e.g. training vehicles) 8 
			 Specialist vehicles (e.g. secure and perimeter vehicles) 6 
		
	
	Currently 79 per cent. of the fleet is diesel powered, 20.5 per cent. are fuelled by petrol and 0.5 per cent. are alternatively powered. Home Office environmental policy on vehicle replacement is that wherever possible vehicles purchased will encompass either dual fuel technology (e.g. liquid petroleum gas (LPG)/petrol) or be high-pressure direct injection diesel with particulate filters.

Young Offenders

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list information and communications technology courses available for young offenders serving sentences in young offenders institutions in England and Wales broken down by young offender institution; how many young offenders are enrolled on such courses; and how many computers are available to be used for education and training in young offenders institutions in England and Wales per young offender.

Hilary Benn: E-learning is part of the prison core curriculum and as such is available to all young offenders serving sentences in young offender institutions (YOls) in England and Wales. All establishments offer a variety of qualifications including computer literacy and information technology (CLAIT) at levels 1 to 3, information technology key skills and the European Computer Driving Licence. Information on how many young offenders are enrolled in an information and communications technology (ICT) course at any one time is not currently available.
	At present we estimate that around 690 computers are available in YOls for educational purposes. We will increase this number, giving more young offenders the opportunity to gain important skills that can help them to find a job on release.

Young Offenders

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are being taken by his Department to reduce the average distance of young offenders held in young offender institutions from their youth offending teams.

Hilary Benn: The juvenile secure estate is made up of Prison Service young offender institutions, local authority secure children's homes and privately-operated secure training centres. The Youth Justice Board commissions and purchases the places, and places individual offenders. Distance from home is a key factor in placement decisions.
	In December 2002, 71 per cent. of young people in custody were within 50 miles of home. The Board's target is 90 per cent. in 2003–04. To achieve that the Board is currently reviewing the profile of the custodial estate and the catchment areas of establishments within it, taking account of the greater flexibility provided by the recent opening of 64 more secure training centre places.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Iraq

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what role there is for the Conflict Prevention Fund in Contingency Preparations for humanitarian operations in the aftermath of possible military action in Iraq.

Clare Short: No decision has been taken to launch military action against Iraq. The purpose of the Global Conflict Prevention Pool is to improve the effectiveness of the UK contribution to conflict prevention by reducing the number of people whose lives are affected by conflict, and reducing the potential sources of conflict. The Global Conflict Prevention Pool would not, therefore, be used to fund humanitarian operations following any military action against Iraq.

Capita

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 13 January 2003, Official Report, column 459W, on Capita, if he will give the (a) start and finish date, (b) value, (c) evaluation mechanism for successful delivery and (d) penalty charges for failure to deliver for each contract; whether penalty charges have been incurred; what the service level agreements were; what the contract numbers were; and if he will make a statement.

Clare Short: The contract details are set out in the following table. The contracts were completed successfully against the terms of reference. No penalty charges were incurred. There were no service level agreements for these contracts.
	
		
			 Contract number Project title Value (£) Start date End date 
		
		
			 19984472 Ethiopia Police: Development Assistance 1,103,035 15 February 1998 28 May 2000 
			 19972812 Assistance with RAB Overview Training 34,377 19 May 1997 1 September 1997 
			 19961105 Efficiency Scrutiny of Accounts Department 34,050 26 August 1996 14 November 1996 
			 20024018 Recruitment Consultants for Support to Ethiopian Civil Service Reform Programme 51,250 8 July 2002 8 January 2003 
			 20012466 Recruitment Consultants for Pillar IV of the UNMIK Administration 180,000 28 May 2001 27 May 2002

Democratic Republic of Congo

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will place in the Library information received by her Department from the third report of the UN Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources in the DRC; and if she will request copies of all material collected in relation to allegations made in the report which she has found to be (a) inaccurate and (b) unsubstantiated.

Clare Short: We have yet to receive from the UN panel of experts the additional information sought corroborating the allegations made in the panel report against British companies and nationals in respect of the illegal exploitation of resources in the DRC. Once this information is received I will consider whether it is suitable for placing in the Library, taking into account any further action that may be needed in relation to the allegations.

EU Aid Budget

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will estimate how much money the United Kingdom transfers to the European Union as a contribution to the European Commission's Annual Aid Budget each year.

Clare Short: The following table gives figures for UK payments to the EC budget for aid and International Development for the past three years from DFID and other Government Departments. Further information is available in the latest edition of "Statistics on International Development" [pp. 126 Table 8]. A copy of this may be found in the Library of the House.
	
		Amounts paid to the European Union for International Development -- Thousand
		
			  1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 EC Attribution(23) 522,660 582,140 626,755 
			 European Development Fund 212,893 121,376 91,463 
			 European Investment Bank 2,805 4,033 3,847 
			 Departments other than DFID 18,545 19,470 27,130 
			 Total 756,903 727,019 749,195 
		
	
	(23) This is an estimate for the amount paid by DFID towards the EC aid and development program for each financial year
	Source:
	DFID Statistics on international development 1997–98 to 2001–02

Kyrgyzstan

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with her counterparts in (a) the United States of America, (b) the European Union and (c) Russia to encourage them to give aid to Kyrgyzstan; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: There have been no direct discussions with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the European Commission or
	Russia on aid to Kyrgyzstan. The United States already provides development assistance to Kyrgyzstan: around US$35 million in 2002. Up to 1999 the EU Tacis programme, to which the UK contributes, provided grant assistance of Euro 53 million to Kyrgyzstan, with a further Euro 16 million being allocated for the period 2000–03.

Kyrgyzstan

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent meetings she has had with non-governmental organisations and international aid organisations regarding Kyrgyzstan; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: Officials from my Department and the DFID office in Bishkek meet with international NGOs and local Kyrgyz NGOs, on a regular basis: some of the NGOs are actively involved in DFID projects in Kyrgyzstan.
	The DFID office in Bishkek takes a leading role in donor coordination in Kyrgyzstan. Representatives of the donor community, which includes the international aid organisations, attend monthly coordination meetings. My Department has several collaborative projects with the World bank. Closer links are being established with the Asian Development Bank with a view to working with them also in Kyrgyzstan.

St. Helena

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made in respect of developing air links with St. Helena; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: The St. Helena Government, with our agreement, has decided to seek proposals for private sector participation. A prospectus is being prepared as a basis for inviting responses from interested parties.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Public Appointments

Huw Edwards: To ask the Minister for Women what measures she is introducing to increase the number of women applying for public appointments.

Patricia Hewitt: My hon. Friend, the Minister for State at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and I led a national outreach programme, that finished only in December 2002, to encourage more women to apply for public appointments. We have now published an excellent practical guide that enables others to take forward this approach.

Social Enterprises

Chris Mole: To ask the Minister for Women what measures her Department takes to support social enterprise by women.

Patricia Hewitt: Women already play an important part in social enterprises and DTI supports them through a wide range of activities. This will be strengthened through the implementation of the Government's three-year strategy for social enterprise, which I launched in July 2002.

WALES

Air Quality Plans

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which local authorities in Wales have completed Ambient Air Quality (a) plans and (b) assessments.

Peter Hain: That is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

Cardiff International Airport

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what annual emission of (a) NOx, (b) SOx and (c) CO2 was recorded for Cardiff International Airport in the last available year, classified by (i) aviation emissions, (ii) volume for each category of ground vehicle, (iii) type of power unit and (iv) type of fuel.

Peter Hain: This information is not held centrally and is a matter for the airport operator.

Flood Defences (Hampton Bishop)

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action the Welsh Environment Agency is taking to repair the weakness in the flood defence barrier by the Bunch of Carrots pub at Hampton Bishop, Herefordshire.

Elliot Morley: I have been asked to reply.
	Operational responsibility for flood measures rests with the local operating authorities, normally the Environment Agency (EA) and local councils, who decide which projects to promote and their timing. This Department provides grants for flood and coastal defence capital works and associated studies, which meet essential technical, economic and environmental criteria and achieve an appropriate priority score.
	I understand that EA Wales is preparing a submission to Defra for approval of grant aid on a proposed scheme to strengthen and improve approximately 1 km of the existing embankment along the River Wye at Hampton Bishop, Herefordshire. The EA has identified this length as having a potential weakness in extreme flood conditions. Additionally the Agency, in co-operation with Herefordshire county council, has put into place an Emergency Response Procedure for Hampton Bishop. This would include the evacuation of residents in the event of the Agency issuing a Severe Flood Warning for the location.

Gwydyr House

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales who owns the headquarters of his Department at Gwydyr House in Whitehall, London; what his estimate is of (a) the capital value of this building and (b) the annual estimated rental cost; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: My Department owns Gwydyr House.
	(a) £1.7 million;
	(b) No recent estimate has been made of the annual rental cost.

Ministerial Visits

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the overseas visits of Welsh Office Ministers in each year from 1997–98 to 2002–03, setting out the (a) destination, (b) timing, (c) total cost and (d) reason for visit; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office on 22 January 2003, Official Report, column 334W.

Postal Votes

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the number of postal votes applied for in Wales for the forthcoming elections to the National Assembly, broken down by (a) Assembly constituency and (b) local authority area.

Peter Hain: The figures are not held centrally. However, I know that a number of local authorities have taken positive steps to publicise the availability of postal votes. This has led to an increase in applications, which I welcome.

Sickness Absence

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many days were lost due to sickness absence in the Department in 2002.

Peter Hain: The number of days lost due to sickness absence in my Department in 2002 was 206.

Sickness Absence

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many working days were lost due to illness in his Department in (a) 2002 and (b) each of the preceding five years.

Peter Hain: My Department came into existence on 1 July 1999. The number of working days lost due to illness in my Department in (a) 2002 was 206 and (b) 2001 was 277, 2000 were 231 and 1999, from July to December, was 120.

Sickness Absence

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the rate of staff (a) absenteeism and (b) sickness was in his Department in each year from 1990–91 to 2002–03; what the target set is for his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: The Wales Office does not have any agencies or non-departmental public bodies. Since its establishment on 1 July 1999, there has been no reported absenteeism. The rate of sickness averages between 7.5 days in 1999 to 5.5 days in 2002 per staff year.
	The Civil Service is committed to reducing sickness absence by 20 per cent. by 2010 (to 8.3 days per staff year). Wales Office average of sick leave is already below this target.

Vehicle Fleets

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he is taking to encourage Cardiff International Airport Ltd. to introduce low emission vehicles in its operations; and what the outcome has been.

Peter Hain: That is primarily a matter for the National Assembly for Wales and I will draw his question to their attention because I attach real importance to reducing vehicle emission.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Manufacturing

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what efforts her Department is making to improve productivity growth rates in the manufacturing sector.

Alan Johnson: The Government's Manufacturing Strategy, published in May last year, identified seven key areas of activity for Government and industry that are crucial for manufacturing success. We are taking action in all of those areas to help British manufacturers improve productivity in very difficult global conditions.

Social Enterprises

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the contributions that social enterprises can make to public service provision.

Stephen Timms: Social enterprises are already successfully delivering public services and we believe that they have the potential to play a far greater role. We are currently considering a number of ways in which their role may be increased.

Broadband

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the help she gives rural businesses which have no access to broadband.

Stephen Timms: Broadband is available throughout the UK by satellite. Schemes funded through the UK Broadband Fund are helping rural small businesses to access broadband services. For example, the Remote Area Broadband Inclusion Trial (RABBIT) will subsidise some 2,000 small businesses' access to broadband for the first year.

Workplace Bullying

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what she is doing to tackle bullying in the workplace.

Alan Johnson: The Government are committed to addressing the problems caused by bullying in the workplace.
	We believe that the best place for bullying to be tackled is where it happens—in the workplace itself. This means changing the culture in the workplace to one where bullying is unacceptable. The DTI is promoting best practice and workplace initiatives to tackle bullying through developing partnership between employers and employees.
	The Government have established the Partnership Fund, which has launched a number of projects specifically focused on bullying and others that include its eradication as part of an overall culture change. We are also working with the HSE to develop a Relationship Management Standard which will provide a benchmark for employers to evaluate and improve workplace practices.
	A net of legislation is already in place to protect workers from the most serious kinds of bullying, for instance in cases of discrimination or harassment. The Government publish guidance booklets on how this legislation can be used, and ACAS provide a nationwide telephone advice line offering assistance to employers and employees on bullying and other employment issues.
	The Employment Act 2002 will take the safety net of legislation further by providing improved employment conditions for an additional six million employees who currently do not have access to adequate internal procedures to deal with discipline and grievance cases.

Supermarket Ownership

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effects on primary producers of the pattern of ownership of supermarkets.

Patricia Hewitt: The Office of Fair Trading considers the effects on suppliers when reviewing any change in ownership or control of a business, including supermarkets.

ACT (Benefits Payment)

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with (a) the Post Office and (b) the Department for Work and Pensions about preparedness for the introduction of full Automated Credit Transfer for benefits payments from April.

Stephen Timms: Ministers and officials of the Department of Trade and Industry are working closely with colleagues from the Department for Work and Pensions and the Post Office on all aspects of the migration of benefits and pensions to direct payment and the introduction of universal banking services.

Aon Health Services

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the value is of the contract recently awarded to Aon Health Services for carrying out health assessments for compensation for services under the Government's vibration white finger compensation scheme.

Brian Wilson: The contract for the Vibration White Finger (VWF) services medical assessment, awarded to Aon Health Solutions, is valued at around £6 million, based on the current projected volume of claimants.

Car Manufacturing

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many motor cars were manufactured in the United Kingdom during each of the last five years.

Alan Johnson: The information requested is as follows:
	
		Number of cars produced in the United Kingdom, 1998–2002 -- Thousands
		
			 Year Number of cars  
		
		
			 1998 1,748 
			 1999 1,787 
			 2000 1,641 
			 2001 1,492 
			 2002 1,628 
		
	
	Source:
	National Statistics

Disablement Benefit (Access)

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received regarding the ability of disabled people to access their benefit entitlement at post offices by using a plastic swipe card and a numeric keypad.

Stephen Timms: The Department receives representations on a wide range of issues concerning the post office network. The Government and the Post Office are working to provide a high quality range of services for all our customers, including those who wish to use the Post Office card account. It is the responsibility of Post Office Ltd. as the service provider, to ensure that disabled people can access their benefits at post offices using a plastic swipe card and a numeric pad.

Earnings

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the gap between the average earnings of men and women is in (a) South East Scotland, (b) the Scottish Borders, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK.

Alan Johnson: In 2002 the gap between the average gross weekly earnings of men and women was 24 per cent. in Scotland and nearly 25 per cent. in Great Britain. (UK figures are not available). South East Scotland is not a unitary authority but for the purpose of this request, I have created data by adding Borders, East Lothian, Edinburgh and Midlothian local authorities which shows that there is an approximate 37 per cent. gap between men and women's average gross weekly earnings.
	Sample represented for Scottish Borders is too small.
	Source:
	Labour Market New Earnings Survey 2002

Essential Medicines (Poorer Countries' Access)

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she has taken to ensure poorer countries are able to access essential medicines since the World Trade Organisation failed to resolve the issue; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 12 February 2003
	The Government continues to work with the EU and all other WTO members to try and reach agreement on the important issue of TRIPS and Public Health. We see the recently declared EU moratorium (on taking to Dispute Settlement any country exporting copies of patented medicines to other developing countries in need) as purely a stop-gap solution.
	Access to medicines goes much wider than this aspect of intellectual property. The Government is committed to working holistically to solve issues of delivery, research and funding as well. For example, the Government has since 1997 committed £1.5 billion to strengthening healthcare systems in developing countries. The Government has also committed $200 million over five years to the Global Trust Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. In addition the 2002 budget set up a new tax credit available to companies who set up health-related research and development to fight HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria in developing countries.
	In addition a UK working group set up by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and chaired by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development produced a report last November on Increasing Access to Essential Medicines in the Developing World (www.dfid.gov.uk). The Government continues to work with all members of this group to implement the recommendations as widely as possible.

EU Enlargement

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the opportunities for UK businesses arising from EU enlargement.

Patricia Hewitt: UK business has already benefited from the removal of trade barriers with the fast growing economies of central and eastern Europe and this can be expected to continue with the expansion of the EU to create the largest single market in the world. The Department's officials are completing more detailed analysis, which we intend to publish as soon as possible.

EU Enlargement

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) assessment and (b) analysis her Department has conducted on the opportunities for UK businesses from EU enlargement.

Brian Wilson: UK business has already benefited from the removal of trade barriers with the fast growing economies of central and eastern Europe and this can be expected to continue with the expansion of the EU to create the largest single market in the world. The department's officials are completing more detailed analysis which we intend to publish as soon as possible.

Gas NVQ

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advice CORGI gave to (a) the HSE and (b) Ministers in March 2002 on the introduction of a new NVQ industry qualification for gas engineers.

Nick Brown: In March 2002, the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI) gave advice solely to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). On 21 March the CORGI Chief Executive wrote to advise HSE about how it proposed to deal with Transco's application for renewal of its registration from 1 April 2002. CORGI stated their view that the Rules for Registration needed to be applied equitably to all CORGI registered businesses and that to make an exception to these in the case of Transco would have been inappropriate. CORGI gave no advice to Ministers at that time.
	CORGI advised that they had decided to re-register Transco with effect from 1 April 2002 but only for work undertaken by the 325 engineers then holding either unexpired certificates of competence issued under the Health and Safety Commission's Approved Code of Practice (AcoP) or certificates under the Nationally Accredited Certification Scheme (ACS). Throughout the remainder of the year the registration progressively covered the work of additional engineers as they completed training and assessment under the newly-introduced National Vocational Qualification which is aligned, for gas safety issues, with the ACS. As at 16 January 2003 the registration covered a total of 2,707 engineers holding valid certificates of competence for emergency service work.

Manufacturing

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many manufacturing businesses operated with five employees or fewer in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: Table 1 shows estimates of the number of businesses in the manufacturing sector with four employees or fewer for the time period start-1997 to start-2001. It is not possible to provide figures for the number of businesses with five employees, as this breakdown is not available.
	
		Table 1 Manufacturing sector: number of businesses with0–4 employees: United Kingdom
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Start-1997 252,380 
			 Start-1998 262,265 
			 Start-1999 264,230 
			 Start-2000 265,870  
			 Start-2001 226,460 
		
	
	Source:
	Small Business Service

Manufacturing

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people and what percentage of the work force in Pendle (a) were employed in manufacturing industry in 1977 and (b) are employed in manufacturing.

Alan Johnson: In 1977 the total work force in Pendle numbered 32,201 of which 21,031 (65.3 per cent.) were employed in manufacturing.
	In 2001 the total workforce in Pendle numbered 30,700 of which 11,400 (37 per cent.) were employed in manufacturing.

Post Office (Banking Services)

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will ensure that the Post Office card account is given equal promotion and advertising as high street banking options.

Stephen Timms: The Post Office card account is one of a range of accounts which people will be able from this year to receive benefit payments into. Our aim is that people should be able to choose the option that suits them best. Information about all the options is being supplied to benefit, pension and tax credit customers by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Inland Revenue. Post Office Ltd. will also be making its own material available to customers.

Post Offices (Portsmouth, South)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the financial loss to post offices in Portsmouth, South as a result of the change in the payment of benefits from over-the-counter to direct bank transfer; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: No such assessment has been made. The migration of benefit payment to ACT begins this year and the Post Office's strategy is to respond to that challenge with a range of banking and other services. How the migration of benefit payments affects the revenue of post offices will depend on a number of factors, not least how benefit recipients and other post office customers respond to change. The income from the various contracts Post Office Ltd. has with the spending Departments and various financial institutions, and the remuneration of sub-postmasters for banking services, is a commercial matter between the parties.

Public Liability

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses have ceased trading in the last 12 months citing a rise in public liability premiums from their insurers.

Brian Wilson: Firms generally cease trading as the result of a combination of factors, including increases in costs. It is therefore very hard to estimate the effect of insurance premium increases on the number of businesses that have ceased trading. The Government's current review of employers' liability insurance aims to examine the impact of the current system on employers, and make recommendations accordingly. Full details of this review are at: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/2002/health-safety/eli-review/index .htm.

Small Retail Businesses

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant, to the answer of 8 January 2003, Official Report, column 248W, on small retail businesses, how many work-force jobs are accounted for by small retail businesses.

Brian Wilson: The following table shows estimated employment in the UK at the start of 2001 in sector 52 (retail trade except of motor vehicles). SMEs (0 to 249 employees) accounted for approximately 37 per cent., and small businesses (0 to 49) 33 per cent., of all employment in this sector. These figures are based on a total business population of about 3.75 million (about 7,000 of these are large businesses) with total employment of about 22.6 million (about half of which is in SMEs).
	
		Table 1: Amount of employment (000s) in the private sector and public corporations(24)
		
			 UK number All SMEs(25) Small(26) 
		
		
			 52 Retail trade, except of motor vehicles 2,875 1,071 952 
		
	
	(24) Figures from SME Statistics 2001
	(25) Businesses with less than 250 employees
	(26) Businesses with less than 50 employees
	Source:
	Small Business Service

Wind Farms

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many planning consents are being sought for (a) offshore and (b) land-based wind farm projects in (i) England, (ii) Wales, (iii) Scotland and (iv) Northern Ireland; and if she will list the locations.

Brian Wilson: The following table lists the number of wind farm planning consents currently being sought. This list covers those applications which are the responsibility of central Government, and does not include smaller developments which fall under local planning authorities.
	
		
			  (a) Offshore wind farms (b) Onshore wind farms 
		
		
			 England 8 1 
			 Wales 0 0 
			 Scotland 1 7 
			 Northern Ireland 0 5 
		
	
	The applications for offshore wind farms in England are located at Kentish Flats (off Whitstable, Thames Estuary), Lynn (off Skegness, Lincolnshire), Inner Dowsing (off Ingoldmells, Lincolnshire), Cromer (off Mundesley, Norfolk), Gunfleet Sands (off Clacton-on-Sea, Essex), Barrow (off Walney Island, Cumbria), Burbo Bank (off Crosby, Merseyside) and Shell Flats (off Cleveleys, Lancashire).
	There is also one application for an onshore wind farm in England and Wales, under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, under consideration at Little Cheyne Court, Romney Marsh, Kent. Proposals for wind farms in England and Wales with a capacity of 50 MW or below fall to be determined by the local planning authority under the normal planning regime.
	Powers under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 as they apply to Scotland have been devolved to the Scottish Executive. The onshore wind farms under consideration in Scotland are located at the Windy Standard extension (Dumfries and Galloway); Whitelee (East Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire and East Ayrshire); Paul's Hill (Moray); Black Law (North Lanarkshire, West Lothian and South Lanarkshire); Farr (Highland); Braes o'Doune (Stirling) and the Crystal Rig extension (Scottish Borders).
	There is one offshore project under consideration by the Scottish Executive at Robin Rigg (Solway Firth).
	The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment for Northern Ireland are currently dealing with applications for onshore wind farms at Bin Mountain (Strabane, County Tyrone), Omagh (in the townlands of Lough Hill, Castlecraig, Curraghmacall and Drummahon, County Tyrone), Fermanagh (in the townlands of Garrane, Mullaghfad, Corraleek and Corragunt, and Rosslea, County Fermanagh), Fermanagh (in the townlands of Callagheen and Garrison, County Fermanagh) and Fermanagh (in the townlands of Glenarn, Stranahone and Stranadarriff, Tappaghan Mountain and Lack, County Fermanagh).

Wind Farms

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the contribution to be made by (a) off-shore and (b) land-based wind farm projects over the next ten years as a percentage of overall electricity generation.

Brian Wilson: The Government have not made estimates for the contribution that onshore and offshore wind farms will make to our overall electricity generation over the next 10 years. The Government's target for renewable energy is that, by 2010, 10 per cent. of electricity should be supplied from sources eligible under the Renewables Obligation. While we expect both onshore and offshore wind to make a substantial contribution to this target, no specific targets have been set in relation to the contribution of any particular form of renewable energy to the overall 10 per cent. target.

NORTHERN IRELAND

A29

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will identify the automatic traffic monitoring sites situated along the A29 route.

Angela Smith: I have asked the Chief Executive of Roads Service to write to the hon. Member in response to this question. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

Air Quality Plans

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures he is taking to assist local authorities in Northern Ireland in adopting ambient air quality plans; how many local authorities have completed ambient air quality (a) plans and (b) assessments; and if he will list them.

Angela Smith: District councils in Northern Ireland came under a statutory duty to undertake air quality assessment and management only with the recent enactment of the Environment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002. The Order requires district councils to identify areas where air quality standards are not likely to be achieved within specified timescales and to draw up action plans setting out the proposals they, and other relevant authorities, have for the reduction of air pollution levels in those areas.
	However, in anticipation of the new legislation, all 26 district councils had voluntarily completed an initial screening of pollution sources having a significant impact within the district council area in order to identify pollutants of concern locally. As a consequence, all 26 district councils are now engaged in a more detailed assessment of the pollutants identified in the initial screening. No district council has yet reached the stage of drawing up air quality action plans.
	To assist with the review and assessment process, the Department of the Environment has provided grant-aid of some £l million to district councils in the 2001–02 and current financial years. Similar provision has been made for continuation of the grant scheme in 2003–04.
	The Department proposes to issue shortly technical guidance on the review and assessment process and on the preparation of action plans. This guidance has been drawn up by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in conjunction with the devolved Administrations. The Department also proposes in the near future to issue for consultation a policy guidance paper designed to assist district councils, and other relevant authorities, to meet their air quality management obligations.

Belfast International Airport

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures he is taking to encourage Belfast International Airport Ltd. to introduce low emission vehicles in its operations.

Angela Smith: There are no measures aimed specifically at introducing low emission vehicles specifically into airport operations within Northern Ireland. In broader terms, there are national polices in place to reduce emissions from vehicles generally, such as the Powershift programme, administered by the Energy Saving Trust. This programme was established in order to stimulate the market for clean fuel vehicles in the UK. Financial support is available under the programme to help with the purchase of vehicles which are proven to offer emissions benefits and which have shown to be technically viable.
	In addition, the European Auto-Oil programme has introduced tighter European vehicle emission and fuel quality standards. These are reflected in the Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The key elements of the programme are:
	stringent emission standards for cars and light vans, which applied to all new vehicles sold from 1 January 2000 (known as Euro 111 standards);
	more stringent standards applying from 1 January 2006 (Euro 1V standards);
	tighter fuel quality specifications which applied to all petrol and diesel sold from 1 January 2000, with a further tightening of the specification to apply from 1 January 2005; and
	a ban on general marketing of leaded petrol since 1 January 2000.
	A further element of the Auto-Oil programme established a more stringent emissions standard for heavy-duty diesel engines from 2000. These engines are used in a wide range of vehicles, including lorries and buses. From 2005 almost all heavy-duty diesel vehicles will effectively be fitted with particulate traps—which can reduce particle emissions (PM10) by up to 90 per cent.

Care Services

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent in Northern Ireland in providing (a) occupational and physiotherapy, (b) home help and (c) district nursing services in each of the last three years.

Des Browne: The following table details the amounts spent in providing the services:
	
		£000
		
			  1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Occupational/physiotherapy 12,716 14,726 15,759 
			 Home helps 41,999 44,033 44,608 
			 District nursing 26,904 28,611 32,321

Gardner Report

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place in the Library the findings of the report on education by Professor John Gardner commissioned by the Northern Ireland Assembly prior to its suspension.

Jane Kennedy: The Assembly Education Committee commissioned Professor Gardner to undertake research to assist its consideration of the review of post-primary education but did not have the opportunity to consider the report prior to suspension. I understand that, until the Committee has had an opportunity to consider and approve the report, it cannot be made publicly available and I am, therefore, unable to place a copy in the Library.

Historical and Cultural Buildings

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will bring forward legislation to prevent the destruction and diminution of important historical and cultural buildings in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The Department of the Environment has powers under the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 to list buildings of special architectural or historic interest. Once listed, it is an offence to execute, or cause to be executed, any works for the demolition of such a building, or for its alteration or extension in any manner that would affect its character as a building of special historic or architectural interest. The Department also has powers to control the demolition of buildings in Conservation Areas designated under the Order.
	The draft Planning (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003, will introduce some important new enforcement powers and increase from £5,000 to £30,000 the maximum level of fine that can be imposed on a person on summary conviction for breaching a Listed Buildings Enforcement Notice. The draft Order will also introduce the possibility of custodial sentences, for those found guilty of an offence, of up to six months on summary conviction and up to two years on conviction on indictment. The draft order was laid at Westminster on 16 January 2003, and was debated in the House of Commons Select Committee on 4 February 2003. The draft order is due to be debated in the House of Lords on 13 February 2003 and, subject to Lords' agreement it is expected that it will be taken at the February Privy Council meeting.
	In addition, the draft Order will introduce a fast track mechanism for listing buildings of special architectural or historic interest, which are considered at risk of demolition or adverse alteration. It will also introduce a new control over the demolition of buildings, by making it clear that demolition comes within the meaning of development for planning purposes. For the time being, however, it is my intention to apply this new control over demolition only to the demolition of buildings in Areas of Townscape/Village Character.
	I have no plans at present to bring forward any further legislation on this subject.

Housing Executive Tenants

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the rent increases for Northern Ireland Housing Executive tenants have been, expressed as a proportion of GDP, for each year since 1997.

Des Browne: Northern Ireland Housing Executive rent increases from 1997 are as follows:
	
		
			  GDP (Percentage) 
		
		
			 1997–98 GDP (2 per cent.) + 2 per cent. = 4 per cent. 
			 1998–99 GDP (2.8 per cent.) + 2 per cent. = 4.8 per cent. 
			 1999–2000 GDP (2.5 per cent.) + 2 per cent. = 4.5 per cent. 
			 2000–01 GDP (2.5 per cent.) + 2 per cent. = 4.5 per cent. 
			 2001–02 GDP (2.5 per cent.) + 0.5 per cent. = 3 per cent. 
			 2002–03 GDP (2.5 per cent.) + 0.5 per cent. = 3.5 per cent. 
			 2003–04 GDP (2.25 per cent.) + 1 per cent. = 3.25 per cent.

IFI Belfast Plant

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) discussions with and (b) representations to the Irish Government have taken place over its handling of the closure of the IFI Belfast plant since the workers ended their sit-in at the plant.

Ian Pearson: I have made regular representations to the Irish Government since the difficulties at IFI first became known and these have continued following the ending of the workers' sit-in at the Belfast plant. These representations have included correspondence to and, recently, separate meetings with both Mary Harney TD, Irish Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and one of her senior officials.
	Through these meetings and in my correspondence I have consistently expressed my concerns about the treatment of the Belfast work force and I have sought the assurance of the Irish Government that they are doing everything they can to ensure their treatment is fair and equitable.

Minimum Income Guarantee

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people it is estimated are eligible for Minimum Income Guarantee in Northern Ireland.

Des Browne: At October 2002 there were 76,101 people claiming the Minimum Income Guarantee. At present, the proportion of people who are eligible but have not claimed cannot be precisely estimated.
	It is hoped that information from the new Family Resources Survey, will start to become available in the autumn. This information will enable take-up to be estimated.
	The Social Security Agency continues to actively encourage uptake of Minimum Income Guarantee to ensure that all people claim and receive all the help they are entitled to.

Minimum Income Guarantee

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have applied for the Minimum Income Guarantee in Northern Ireland in each year since its introduction.

Des Browne: Minimum Income Guarantee was introduced in April 1999. Since then, almost 50,000 pensioners have applied.
	The figures in the following table set out the number of applications made each financial year.
	
		
			 Year Applications 
		
		
			 1999–2000 10,923 
			 2000–01 15,904 
			 2001–02 14,721 
			 2002 up to December 8,297

Old People's Dwellings

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many old people's dwellings in Northern Ireland have been allocated to people under 60 years of age.

Des Browne: Currently some 6,500 properties out of a total 17,500, one or two bedroomed bungalows have been let to people under the age of 60, some of whom have a disability. In addition there are approximately 5,000 ground floor flats which are considered to be suitable for the elderly but figures on age profile of the occupants is not readily available.

Public Transport (Free Fares)

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans there are to introduce free fares on public transport for women aged 60 and over in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: Currently under the Northern Ireland Concessionary Fares Scheme both men and women over 65 are eligible for free travel on public transport. Under equality legislation any reduction in the eligibility age would have to apply to both men and women. However, we have no plans at present to reduce the age of eligibility from 65.

Senior Citizens

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding has been provided by Belfast Regeneration Office to projects and programmes dealing with senior citizens in each financial year since 1997.

Des Browne: Detail of funding provided by Belfast Regeneration Office (BRO) to those projects and programmes which benefit senior citizens are listed in the following table.
	
		
			 Financial year Total amount of funding allocated to senior citizens by BRO (£) 
		
		
			 1997–98 7,475.45 
			 1998–99 3,100.00 
			 1999–2000 2,623.00 
			 2000–01 9,670.00 
			 2001–02 977.71 
			 2002–03 0

Sports Council

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money was allocated to the NT Sports Council in (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 2000–01, (d) 2001–02 and (e) 2002–03.

Angela Smith: The total amount of money allocated to the Sports Council in the years listed is as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1997–98 3.009 
			 1998–99 2.558 
			 2000–01 4.618 
			 2001–02 3.778 
			 2002–03 5.748

Traffic Volume (Moy Village)

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will commission a new survey for traffic volume in Moy village.

Angela Smith: I have asked the Chief Executive of Roads Service to write to the hon. Member in response to this question. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Colombia (Human Rights)

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with the US Administration regarding (a) developments and (b) the abuse of human rights in Colombia; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Government of Colombia regarding (a) abuses of human rights and (b) persecution of human rights workers; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with UK and UN representatives at the UN regarding human rights surveillance by the United Nations in Colombia; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave her on 22 January 2003, Official Report, column 354W.

Arms and Drugs Trafficking

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information exchange systems there are between (a) UK and (b) EU agencies to monitor and tackle arms and trafficking.

Mike O'Brien: The UK regularly exchanges information with its EU partners, both bilaterally and in multilateral fora such as the EU Committee on Conventional Arms Export Policy (COARM), the Wassenaar Arrangement, the Nuclear Suppliers' Group, the Australia Group and within the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
	Under the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports, which relates to conventional arms, there is a Denial Notification (DN) system. EU Code of Conduct DNs are issued for all military listed and dual-use goods which have been refused a licence for export by a member state. No member state may export essentially identical goods, without first consulting the member state that issued the denial notification. Member states also contribute information about their arms export policy and licensing activity for inclusion in an annual report.
	Only a minority of EU member states have legislation which controls the trafficking of arms.

Arms and Drugs Trafficking

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Overseas Law Enforcement Liaison Officer network has taken to co-ordinate efforts to tackle arms and drugs trafficking.

Mike O'Brien: Drug and other law enforcement liaison officers represent a range of UK law enforcement agencies and are funded and tasked to combat specific aspects of organised crime. If in the course of their duties, liaison officers discover information that is relevant to the work of other UK law enforcement agencies, that information is shared rapidly as appropriate.

Bermuda

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Bermuda on constitutional change.

Mike O'Brien: My noble Friend Baroness Amos discussed the constitution review process with the Premier of Bermuda, the Attorney General and Senator David Burch in London in September 2002.

British Indian Ocean Territory

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the use of British Indian Ocean Territory in relation to the international war against terrorism.

Mike O'Brien: Diego Garcia, part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, is the location of a US defence facility which was used as an important strategic staging post for coalition forces during the military campaign in Afghanistan; it contributed to the defeat of Taleban and al-Qaeda forces.

British Prisoners Overseas

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries in which British (a) men and (b) women are serving a prison sentence.

Mike O'Brien: The following table lists the countries in which British men and women are imprisoned and gives the numbers of men and women detained in each as at 31 December 2002. The figures represent those prisoners who either requested consular assistance or who gave permission to the local authorities to notify the British Consul of their arrest.
	
		British nationals detained overseas as at 31 December 2002
		
			 Country Number of prisoners Males Females 
		
		
			 Albania 1 — 1 
			 Antigua and Barbuda 7 3 4 
			 Argentina 4 3 1 
			 Australia 127 122 5 
			 Austria 10 10 — 
			 Bahrain 1 1 — 
			 Belgium 25 25 — 
			 Belize 1 1 — 
			 Brasil 15 12 3 
			 Bulgaria 2 2 — 
			 Cambodia 2 2 — 
			 Canada 4 4 — 
			 China 7 7 — 
			 Colombia 2 2 — 
			 Cyprus 11 11 — 
			 Denmark 11 9 2 
			 Dominican Republic 1 1 — 
			 Ecuador 6 5 1 
			 Egypt 5 5 — 
			 Ethiopia 2 2 — 
			 Fiji 1 1 — 
			 Finland 5 5 — 
			 France 176 168 8 
			 Germany 110 104 6 
			 Ghana 1 1 — 
			 Greece 13 12 1 
			 Grenada 17 11 6 
			 Guyana 2 2 — 
			
			 India 17 14 3 
			 Indonesia 9 8 1 
			 Ireland 80 72 8 
			 Israel 2 2 — 
			 Italy 19 16 3 
			 Jamaica 134 83 51 
			 Japan 37 33 4 
			 Kenya 2 2 — 
			 Kuwait 2 2 — 
			 Lebanon 1 1 — 
			 Luxembourg 3 3 — 
			 Malawi 1 1 — 
			 Malaysia 2 2 — 
			 Malta 8 4 4 
			 Mexico 2 2 — 
			 Morocco 7 7 — 
			 Nepal 1 1 — 
			 Netherlands 42 40 2 
			 New Zealand 14 13 1 
			 Nigeria 1 1 — 
			 Norway 5 5 — 
			 Oman 2 2 — 
			 Pakistan 4 4 0 
			 Panama 8 5 3 
			 Peru 15 14 1 
			 Philippines 23 22 1 
			 Poland 1 1 — 
			 Portugal 14 13 1 
			 Qatar 3 3 — 
			 Republic of Kiribati 1 1 — 
			 Romania 2 2 — 
			 Russia 1 1 — 
			 Saudi Arabia 10 10 — 
			 Singapore 8 6 2 
			 South Africa 11 10 1 
			 Spain 262 240 22 
			 Sri Lanka 1 1 — 
			 St. Kitts and Nevis 1 1 — 
			 St. Lucia 3 3 — 
			 St. Vincent and Grenadines 3 2 1 
			 Sweden 18 16 2 
			 Switzerland 3 3 — 
			 Syria 2 2 — 
			 Thailand 30 29 1 
			 The Gambia 1 1 — 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 20 19 1 
			 Turkey 4 3 1 
			 United Arab Emirates 3 3 — 
			 USA 679 603 76 
			 Yemen 4 4 — 
			 Yugoslavia 1 1 — 
			 Zambia 1 1 — 
			 Total 2,097 1,869 228

Burma

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which people elected at the last elections in Burma are under house arrest there.

Mike O'Brien: Our latest information is that there are no MPs-elect from the 1990 election in Burma currently under house arrest.
	However many MPs-elect continue to be subject to close surveillance, checks, general infringement of civil liberties and harassment from the police and security services.

Burma

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which people elected at the last national elections in Burma are political prisoners in Burma; and what information he has collated regarding the location of each prisoner.

Mike O'Brien: Information about Burmese political prisoners is hard to obtain and often incomplete. My latest information is that there are 18 MPs-elect currently detained on political grounds in Burma. The prison sentences quoted are often only arbitrary figures. It is common for prisoners to be kept detained long after their notional sentences have expired. Many political prisoners are also detained even when suffering serious ill-health.
	Of the MPs listed, U Doe Htaung and U Khin Maung Swe have each served more than their seven year term but have still not been released. And U Kyaw San, Dr. Than Nyein, Daw May Win Myint, U Ohn Maung, U Sein Hla Oo, and U Toe Po all have serious health problems.
	The MPs' details are as follows:
	
		
			 Name Prison term Prison 
		
		
			 U Min Soe Lin (Dr.) 7 years Unknown 
			 U Min Kyi Win 7 years Unknown 
			 U Yawsi Unknown Myitkyina 
			 U Khun Myint Tun 7 years Kalay 
			 U Kyaw Khin Unknown Unknown 
			 U Ohn Maung Unknown Insein 
			 U Soe Myint 42 years Insein 
			 U Zaw Myint Maung 25 years Myitkyina 
			 U Ohn Kyaing 17 years Taungoo 
			 U Kyaw San Unknown Insein 
			 U Mying Naing 25 years Thayet 
			 U Doe Htaung 7 years Mandalay 
			 U Toe Po 7 years Thayawady 
			 U Nine Nine 21 years Insein 
			 U Than Nyein (Dr.) 7 years Insein 
			 Daw May Win Myint (Dr.) 7 years Insein 
			 U Sein Hla Oo 20 years Myitkyina 
			 U Khin Maung Swe 7 years Myingyan

Burma

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has collated about the number of British tourists who visited Burma in each of the past two financial years.

Mike O'Brien: It is our policy not to encourage tourism to Burma. We have drawn to the attention of travel organisations the views of the Burmese democratic opposition that tourism is inappropriate at present due to the political and human rights situation there. As part of this policy, Burmese tourism officials are included in the European Union visa ban and asset freeze.
	HMG does not have figures for the final destination of those who travel from the UK. Official Burmese figures, which are often unreliable, indicate that 8,424 UK visitors passed through Rangoon in 2001 and 8,620 in 2002. However these figures include all categories of visitors, including UK passport holders of Burmese origin who are visiting family members.

Capita

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 9 January, Official Report, column 351W, on Capita, if he will give the (a) start and finish date, (b) value, (c) evaluation mechanism for successful delivery and (d) penalty charges for failure to deliver for each contract; whether penalty charges have been incurred; what the service level agreements were; what the contract numbers were; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Our two contracts with Capita relate to staff recruitment services. One is for the recruitment of administrative assistants (contract PC-R l/00)and the other for the recruitment of specialist staff (contract PC-R 2/00). The value of the contracts over their lifetime is estimated at £917,000 and £1.06 million respectively, £861,000 of which is taken up by expenditure on advertising.
	Both contracts commenced on 1 November 2000 and will end on 31 October 2003. They comprise a number of separate recruitment campaigns and we routinely assess performance after each one has been completed. No arrangements for penalty charges are included in the contracts, but we have the option to terminate them if the company were to default on its commitments. Performance levels to date have been satisfactory.

Chechnya

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Russian Government on the future referendum to take place in Chechnya.

Denis MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not, as yet, raised this issue with the Russian government. However, we do intend to discuss the matter at official level during the next round of our human rights dialogue with Russia, scheduled for early March.

Commonwealth Institute

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who the (a) directors and (b) trustees of the Commonwealth Institute are.

Mike O'Brien: Since January 2000 the affairs of the Commonwealth Institute have been conducted by a charitable company limited by guarantee: Charity Registration Number 1078736; Company Registration Number 3736792 (England and Wales).
	The Trustees of the Charity, who are also the Directors of the Company, are Miss Judith Hanratty,
	Right Hon. Lord Fellowes,
	HE The High Commissioner for Barbados Mr. Peter Simmons,
	HE The High Commissioner for Malta Dr. George Bonello Du Puis,
	HE The High Commissioner for New Zealand, Right Hon. Paul East QC (appointed 7 December 2000, resigned 14 February 2002),
	HE The High Commissioner for New Zealand Hon. Cedric Russell Marshall,
	HE The High Commissioner for Nigeria Dr. Christopher Kolade,
	HE The High Commissioner for the United Republic of Tanzania Mr Hassan Omargumbo Kibelloh,
	HE Right Hon. Don McKinnon, Commonwealth Secretary General,
	Mr Algy Cluff,
	Mrs. Helen Robinson OBE.

Computer Fraud

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many cases of computer (a) hacking, (b) fraud and (c) theft his Department recorded in 2001–02; and on how many occasions computer systems have been illegally accessed by computer hackers (i) within and (ii) outside his Department.

Bill Rammell: The number of cases of (a) computer hacking detected was three in 2001 and one in 2002. All of these were perpetrated by persons outside the Department.
	No cases of (b) fraud have been detected in 2001 or 2002.
	The number of cases of (c) computer theft detected was three in 2001 and none in 2002. The perpetrators are unknown.

Kimberley Process

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to recommend the introduction of certification schemes similar to the Kimberley Process for (a) timber and (b) coltan.

Bill Rammell: There are no firm plans to introduce arrangements similar to the Kimberley Process to regulate the trade in timber or coltan. It is not yet clear that something akin to the Kimberley Process, which was developed for a very specific purpose and has only been implemented since 1 January, could be effective in preventing the exploitation of other natural resources.

Energy Supplies (Security)

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  which countries he has identified as posing a threat to the security of energy supplies;
	(2)  what current international security risks he has identified as posing a threat to energy supplies.

Bill Rammell: There are uncertainties in the world oil market, including concerns about supplies from Iraq. However, currently the only loss of supplies is from Venezuela, and OPEC has already announced that it will increase output to help alleviate the shortfall. OPEC has also reaffirmed its commitment to general market stability. In addition, the International Energy Agency stands ready to take action if the need arises—for example, on the occurrence of a significant supply disruption—including co-ordinating a release of oil stocks by its members.

EU Budget Information Company

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 13 January 2003, Official Report, column 381W, on EU Budget Information Company, how many officials participate in the management committee on the expenditure of EU information budget funds in candidate countries; how often they meet; and if he will place the agenda and minutes of their meetings in 2002–03 in the Library.

Clare Short: I have been asked to reply.
	The Phare Management Committee is responsible for oversight of EC pre-accession aid programmes. The Information and Communication Programme is one of these and the 2003 financing proposal was agreed at the recent Management Committee meeting on 7 February 2003. One official was present. The Commission will administer this programme, both in Brussels and through its in-country delegations. I will arrange for the agenda of that meeting, and the minutes once they have been ratified, to be placed in the Library. We do not expect the Phare Management Committee to have any further involvement in this programme in the current year.

External Consultancies

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much (a) his Department and (b) each agency and non-departmental public body spent on external consultancy in each year from 1995–96 to 2002–03 (planned); and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The cost of consultancy services from external consultants is as follows:
	
		£000
		
			  FCO BBC World Service British Council Wilton Park 
		
		
			 1995–96 17,650 n/a 72 8 
			 1996–97 11,800 n/a 459 26 
			 1997–98 15,800 662 1,618 13 
			 1998–99 14,500 499 1,643 3 
			 1999–2000 14,000 242 1,797 4 
			 2000–01 17,900 98 2,397 4 
			 2001–02 20,100 42 2,280 4 
			 2002–03 (Forecast) 23,000 87 1,991 12 
		
	
	The BBC World Service could only provide figures for 1995–96 and 1996–97 at disproportionate cost.
	These figures cover the usual consulting roles e.g. for advising on options and feasibility in the initial stages of a project. They exclude the cost of whole projects being implemented by outside consultants e.g. Cap Gemini/Ernst Young who are main contractors for the installation of the FCO's PRISM project.
	So far as the FCO is concerned, the vast majority of expenditure is associated with our major Information Communications Technology (ICT) and Estate construction programmes. Consultants have also advised on legal, financial and personnel issues and provided support in areas where we have skills shortages. Increasing expenditure over the last three years is associated with the growth of our ICT programme which is being used to support business change. Such projects include FTN, a new global telecommunications network and PRISM, a new integrated management information system covering finance, personnel, procurement and payroll.

Iain Hook

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to receive the official report from the Israeli authorities into the death of Iain Hook on 22 November 2002.

Mike O'Brien: We understand that an Israeli internal report is almost complete. We have consistently made it clear that the Israeli authorities should provide a full written account of Mr. Hook's death to his family.

International Court

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people (a) have been tried at the International Court in The Hague and (b) are in custody who will in the near future be put on trial at the International Court; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The 18 judges (including Mr. Justice Fulford from the UK) of the International Criminal Court were elected on 7 February and they will be sworn in on 11 March. The Prosecutor of the Court is expected to be appointed in April; until then the Court is not able to issue indictments. There have been no trials as yet; neither are there any detainees. We are continuing to work with other States Parties to identify a Prosecutor for this important new institution.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the proposals of the Greek Presidency of the EU for an emergency summit to be convened on Iraq.

Mike O'Brien: The Greek Presidency have called meetings of Foreign Ministers and of heads of Government for 17 February. My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary look forward to attending.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many pages of documents the Government passed on to the (a) UNMOVIC and (b) IAEA inspectorates since 24 September 2002.

Mike O'Brien: We have shared a large amount of information with the UN inspection teams by various means, including paper documentation and through personal briefings. It is not possible to say precisely how many pieces of paper have been passed over without commissioning someone to question people on how many pieces of paper they have given or received.

Iraq

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the United Nations regarding their estimates of the number of (a) children under five at risk of death, (b) mothers and children needing food and (c) people needing shelter in the event of a war in Iraq; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with aid organisations regarding the possible impact of a war against Iraq on existing food aid deliveries; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with Save the Children regarding research they have carried out on the impact of any impending war against Iraq on Iraqi children; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: No decision has been made to take military action against Iraq. As such my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not recently discussed Iraq with the aid organisations.

North Korea

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the risk to international security from North Korea; and what action his Department is undertaking to re-introduce international inspectors to the country.

Bill Rammell: We deplore North Korea's recent actions, including the expulsion of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) monitors from Yongbyon, and the stated intention to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. We have repeatedly made clear that North Korea must re-admit the inspectors and comply with its international obligations in full. We are working closely with the United States and regional partners, and through the IAEA, for a peaceful solution. The IAEA Board of Governors met on 12 February to discuss the matter further.

Organised Crime

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made since the 2002 London Conference on organised crime with the development of an EU wide, co-ordinated approach to tackle arms, drugs and people trafficking.

Denis MacShane: At the London Conference the EU reached agreement with the countries of South Eastern Europe and the wider international community on an international strategy (the London Statement) for tackling organised crime in the region. This focused on raising standards, building public support for action against crime, and improving regional cooperation. Each of the countries of the region additionally agreed to take a series of priority measures to deliver this strategy.
	The Greek EU Presidency, working closely with the European Commission and EU member states, has put the issue high on their agenda. It will be an important theme at the EU's Thessaloniki summit with Balkan countries in June.
	The next EU Presidency (Italy) has clearly indicated its intention to maintain a high priority for this subject.

UN Resolutions

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to update his Department's Table of 1998 of Draft Resolutions in the United Nations Security Council that have been vetoed by Members.

Bill Rammell: The table is currently being updated. It will be complete and available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website by June.

UN Security Council

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on granting India a permanent seat on the UN Security Council; and what steps he is taking in relation to this.

Bill Rammell: The UK supports enlargement of the Security Council to a maximum of 24 members, including expansion in both the permanent and non-permanent membership.
	We fully support India's candidacy for a permanent seat on the Security Council: the requirement to make their case lies primarily with the aspirants.

Zimbabwe

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the British Government have had with European partners concerning the French Government's invitation to President Mugabe for the Franco-African Summit in Paris on 19–21 February; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We are in regular contact with our EU partners about this issue. It was discussed at the GAERC on 27 January. It has subsequently been discussed by Permanent Representatives to the EU on 30 January, 5 February and on 12 February. We have argued consistently for the most robust rollover of measures possible, including the travel ban.

HEALTH

Care Homes

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether (a) his Department and (b) the Social Services Inspectorate have required Lancashire county council to close older people's residential care homes.

Jacqui Smith: Neither the Department nor the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) has required Lancashire county council to close care homes. The decision to close a care home rests with the council or, if it is a privately owned home, the owner of the home.
	I have received a number of representations about the situation in Lancashire and I have asked the SSI to keep me updated on any developments or decisions made by the council about the future of the residents involved.

Child Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding his Department has allocated in 2003 to advertising for child protection social workers in (a) England and (b) abroad; and in which countries the advertisements will be placed.

Jacqui Smith: The Department launched the national social work recruitment campaign in October 2001, backed by funding of £1.5 million. The campaign comprises national advertising, leaflets, posters, local and national public relations activity, a helpline and a website. It is intended to raise the profile of all social work and does not solely focus on child protection. No attempt is being made through the campaign to recruit social workers from abroad.

Child Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Canadian Government regarding the recruitment of child protection social workers.

Jacqui Smith: The Department has not held discussions with the Canadian Government regarding the recruitment of child protection social workers. The recruitment and employment of social workers, whatever their specialism, is the responsibility of individual employers.

Child Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent guidance was issued to employment agencies regarding working in local authority social services departments in child protection.

Jacqui Smith: The Department has not issued guidance.

Child Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies there are in each local authority social services department in England for child protection social workers.

Jacqui Smith: We do not hold central information on vacancies in each local authority social services department in England for social workers.
	A survey undertaken by the employers organisation found that, across all local authority social services departments in England as at 30 September 2001, around 10 per cent. of all field social worker posts were vacant. The rate was slightly higher for children and family field social worker posts, at 11.3 per cent.

Child Protection

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many basic grade social work vacancies there have been in field work teams dealing with child protection work in each local authority area in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: We do not hold central information on vacancies in each local authority social services department in England for social workers.
	A survey undertaken by the employers organisation found that, across all local authority social services departments in England as at 30 September 2001, around 10 per cent. of all field social worker posts were vacant. The rate was slightly higher for children and family field social worker posts, at 11.3 per cent.
	The only historical data is for 2000, when the rate was 16.0 per cent.

Children in Care

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he (a) has taken and (b) is planning to take to encourage children in care to become involved in local community projects.

Jacqui Smith: The Quality Protects programme, launched in 1998, aims to ensure better life chances for children in care and £885 million has been provided over five years to support the objectives of the programme.
	The Government want to see improved opportunities for vulnerable young people in local community projects involving leisure, the creative arts and sporting activities. The Government encourage councils to form partnerships between the Quality Protects programme and other local projects in the community to make sure that this happens. A key Quality Protects principle is to listen and take account of the views of young people in the design, delivery, and evaluation of services.

Children Trusts

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many bids he has received from local authorities to become pilot projects for children trusts.

Jacqui Smith: The deadline for applications from local authorities to become pilot children's trusts is 31March 2003 and so we have yet to receive any formal applications.
	There has, however, been a significant level of interest shown at all three of the information conferences on children's trusts that we held for local authorities and their partner agencies in December 2002 and January 2003.

Delayed Discharges

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the response to his consultation into delayed discharge; and what aspects of the Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc.) Bill were altered to take into consideration the views of those who submitted their views to the consultation.

Jacqui Smith: An analysis of responses to the consultation document was carried out and a summary of this has been placed in the Library. I have taken these responses fully into account when developing policy on delayed discharge.

Medium-Secure Units

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients are awaiting transfer from high security hospitals to medium-secure units; and what proportion of these patients have been waiting for more than three months.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 6 February 2003
	The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			 High secure hospital Number of patients awaiting transfer from high secure hospitals to medium secure units Number of patients waiting for transfer for more than three months 
		
		
			 Ashworth 6 6 
			 Broadmoor 22 20 
			 Rampton 10 9 
		
	
	These figures relate to patients for whom an alternative placement has been agreed with a receiving facility and in respect of whom the Home Secretary's consent to a move has been obtained where necessary.
	The latest available figure as at September 2002 of the number of patients who have already moved to other secure units from the three high security hospitals under the accelerated discharge programme was 65.

Operation Cancellations (Hull and East Riding)

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were cancelled for non-clinical reasons in Hull and the East Riding in each year since 1997; what percentage of operations were cancelled as a proportion of admissions in each year; and what is the national average for the number of operations cancelled for non-clinical reasons.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is available in the Library.

Secure Mental Health Beds

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds were available in secure mental health wards in (a) West Sussex, (b) East Sussex and (c) Surrey in each of the last five years.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not collected centrally at this level. Statistics on the availability of beds in secure units are collected yearly on a national basis. Figures for the south east region are shown in the table.
	This information is available on the website (www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity/statistics).
	
		Ward classification: mental illness (excluding residential care) secure unit—south east region
		
			 Year Available beds Occupied beds Percentage occupancy 
		
		
			 1996–97 222 180 81.1 
			 1997–98 243 227 93.4 
			 1998–99 251 225 89.5 
			 1999–2000 240 224 93.4 
			 2000–01 281 258 91.7

Social Workers

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many social workers working with vulnerable children have been dismissed in each of the last five years in (a) Haringey social services, (b) Ealing social services, (c) Brent social services and (d) Enfield social services.

Jacqui Smith: It is the responsibility of the individual local authority, as the employer, to maintain records relating to their employment policies, procedures and actions in relation to dismissals. The Department does not collect data centrally.

Written Questions

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many named day written parliamentary questions tabled between 15 October 2002 and 5 February 2003 received (a) a substantive answer on the named day and (b) a holding answer;
	(2)  how many named day written questions were tabled between 15 October 2002 and 5 February 2003; how many that received a holding answer were given a substantive answer (a) within three days, (b) within seven days, (c) within 14 days, (d) within 28 days and (e) over 28 days.

Hazel Blears: The Department received 803 named day written parliamentary questions between 15 October 2002 and 5 February. 258 were answered by the day named, 13 have yet to be answered, and 532 have been replied to substantively after being given a holding answer. The further breakdown requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Interval (in calendar days after the holdinganswer) within which the substantive answerwas given Number of PQs 
		
		
			 0–3 212 
			 4–7 157 
			 8–14 55 
			 15–28 62 
			 Over 28 46 
			 Total 532

PRIME MINISTER

Anglo-French Aircraft Carrier

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his announcement in Le Touquet, how his plan for France and the United Kingdom to have one aircraft carrier permanently available will work in practice.

Tony Blair: The United Kingdom already maintains at least one of its three aircraft carriers (CVS) available for operations at any time.
	One of the aims of closer UK-French carrier co-operation is to maximise the availability of aircraft carriers from European nations. The two countries intend to achieve this by exploring mechanisms for harmonising activity cycles. For example, it would be sensible to ensure that major maintenance periods were planned, where possible, so that the maximum number of assets (both hulls and air groups) could be available at any one time.
	A series of joint working groups will explore how best to achieve this aim. These discussions, which have already begun, are expected to continue as the new UK and French carriers are brought in to service.

Chequers

Nick Harvey: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what have been the running costs of Chequers in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many (a) full time, (b) part time and (c) temporary staff have been employed at Chequers in each of the last five years; if he will list their principal duties; what percentage of the total budget for the running costs of Chequers has been made up by the annual grant from public funds in each of the past five years; if he will list the dates he has been in residence at Chequers in each of the past two years; and to what uses Chequers has been put when he has not been in residence.

Tony Blair: Chequers was established under the Chequers Estate Acts 1917 and 1958 and is administered by independent trustees who receive an annual grant from public funds towards its maintenance and to cover civilian staff employed at Chequers in accordance with the Acts. In the last five years the grant has been:
	
		
			 Year £ 
		
		
			 1997–98 259,218 
			 1998–99 317,645 
			 1999–2000 326,661 
			 2000–01 327,183 
			 2001–02 393,018 
		
	
	The Government have agreed to contribute 50 per cent. of the cost of a new roof at Chequers and the grant from 1998–99 onwards includes £50,000 per annum towards the roof fund. The grant for 2001–02 includes £25,000 towards urgent heritage repairs.
	The Government also pay for service staff stationed at Chequers. Over the same period expenditure-net of VAT refunds-has been:
	
		
			 Year £ 
		
		
			 1997–99 215,191 
			 1998–99 232,570 
			 1999–2000 270,186 
			 2000–01 285,592 
			 2001–02 241,448 
		
	
	Responsibility for staff at Chequers rests with the administrative trustees of the Chequers trust. The annual grant is not a fixed percentage of running costs. As a private trust the accounts are confidential.
	My family and I have used Chequers in a variety of ways, both official and private, consistent with the wishes of the donor, Lord Lee, and the Chequers Estate Acts.

Union Celebrations

Hugo Swire: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the union of England and Scotland in 2007.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to him by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport today.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Poverty

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set a universal indicator of child poverty to be used by the Government.

Malcolm Wicks: We launched Measuring child poverty: a consultation document in April 2002. We will publish preliminary conclusions from the consultation in the spring. Further technical work, with experts in the field will be necessary before finalising the detail of any new measure.

Child Support, Pension and Social Security Act

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how much money in total has been withheld by way of retention or kept back by way of deprivation in relation to orders made pursuant to sections 62 to 66 of the Child Support, Pension and Social Security Act 2000; and what the total administrative costs incurred through such orders are;
	(2)  when he will answer the question of 15 January 2003 from the hon. Member for Woking, concerning moneys withheld by deprivation;
	(3)  when he will answer the question of 15 January 2003 from the hon. Member for Woking concerning breaches of community orders.

Malcolm Wicks: The community sentence and benefits measures aim to encourage greater compliance with community orders. Therefore, sanctions only apply when people receiving the relevant benefit do not comply with their orders. The provisions were introduced in four pilot areas from 15 October 2001. A full and independent evaluation is being conducted which will inform any decision on future national implementation.
	As at 15 January 2003, the cost to the Department of administering the Community Sentences and Benefits pilots running in four Probation Service areas was £403,736, of which approximately £262,000 relates to one-off start-up costs, including changes to the national computer systems.
	Information on the total money withheld as a result of benefit sanctions following a breach of community order is not available. Information of the number of people who have lost benefit as a result of breaching their community orders, and the average weekly loss of benefit, is in the table. The figures for the average loss of weekly benefit should be used only as a guide to loss of benefit for individual offenders.
	
		
			 Benefit Number of individuals Average weekly loss of benefit (£) 
		
		
			 Income Support 230 15.28 
			 Jobseeker's Allowance 320 (27)48.29 
			 Total 550 — 
		
	
	(27) After having a sanction imposed, 90 people have made successful hardship claims. This reduces the amount of benefit they have lost. If these hardship claims are taken into account, the average overall reduction in benefit is £33.19 per person per week.
	Notes:
	1. Data are based on clerical returns received at the DWP Information Centre by 13 January 2003, and relate to the period from 15 October 2001 to 6 December 2002.
	2. Average weekly loss of benefit has been calculated on an individual recipient basis using the Jobseeker's Allowance payment system (JSAPS) and the income support computer system (ISCS).
	3. There are four probation service pilot areas: Derbyshire, Hertfordshire, Teesside and West Midlands.
	Source:
	DWP Information Centre: CS Stats forms 1 and 2 (Withdrawal of Benefits Pilot).

Pensions (Protected Rights)

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under what circumstances a member of a pension scheme can benefit from the protected rights part of the pension fund before the age of 60.

Ian McCartney: The only circumstances in which a member can benefit from the protected rights part of their pension fund before age 60, is where the trustees or managers of an occupational scheme are satisfied that the member has a life expectancy of 12 months or less. However, the Green Paper, "Simplicity, security and choice: Working and saving for retirement" (Cm 5677) published on 17 December 2003, includes a proposal to lower the age restriction on protected rights so that they may be taken at the same time as other rights. On the same date, the Government published "Simplifying the taxation of pensions: increasing choice and flexibility for all" which proposes to extend to personal/stakeholder pensions the provision allowing benefits to be taken early in the case of serious ill health.

Benefit Claimants

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how his Department will treat benefit claimants who fail to respond to requests to inform the Department what method of payment they have chosen.

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on how his Department will treat those benefit claimants who fail to respond to requests to inform the Department about the method of payment they have chosen.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department is contacting customers and providing them with information (including letters and leaflets), which clearly sets out the account options as part of the move to Direct Payment. Customers will then be able to consider the options available and choose the account that best meets their needs and circumstances. They will be asked to provide details of their chosen account so that the Department can begin to pay their benefit or pensions by Direct Payment.
	Over the next two years orderbooks will be phased out and Direct Payment will become the normal method of paying benefits and pensions from April 2003. From 2005 orderbooks will no longer be an option and customers will have to be paid by an alternative method.
	It has always been recognised that there will be some customers who are unwilling or unable to use any of the banking options or the Post Office card account. For these people we are currently exploring the options available to ensure they receive their benefit at outlets which will include the Post Office.

Benefit/Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate, for each major benefit and pension, how much of the expenditure of his Department is received by each decile within the UK income distribution; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: Such information as is available is presented for Great Britain in the table.
	
		Proportion of expenditure on major benefits by equivalised income decile (Great Britain) -- Percentage
		
			 Benefits/decile First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth 
		
		
			 Before housing costs  
			 Retirement pension and/or MIG 10 14 15 15 12 10 8 6 6 5 
			 Income support 17 32 23 13 7 4 4 1 1 0 
			 Housing benefit 11 23 25 19 9 5 5 2 1 0 
			 Council tax benefit 20 24 21 15 8 5 4 2 1 0 
			 Jobseeker's allowance 38 29 11 8 3 5 3 1 0 0 
			 Disability living allowance 5 6 13 18 17 14 11 8 4 3 
			 Attendance allowance 2 8 13 18 17 16 16 6 3 2 
			 Incapacity benefits 11 15 17 18 13 9 7 5 3 2 
			 Child benefit 11 14 12 11 11 10 9 8 7 7 
			
			 After housing costs  
			 Retirement pension and/or MIG 5 13 17 13 12 10 10 7 7 6 
			 Income support 21 38 18 9 5 5 2 1 0 0 
			 Housing benefit 24 33 21 8 6 4 3 1 0 0 
			 Council tax benefit 22 30 21 9 6 5 4 2 1 0 
			 Jobseeker's allowance 52 19 8 7 5 4 2 2 1 0 
			 Disability living allowance 4 5 13 19 16 13 10 10 6 4 
			 Attendance allowance 2 4 12 16 18 15 20 7 4 3 
			 Incapacity benefits 10 16 16 16 13 9 8 6 4 2 
			 Child benefit 12 15 12 12 11 10 9 7 7 6 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The estimates presented show expenditure by equivalised income deciles based on 'Households Below Average Income' (HBAI) for the financial year 2000–01. The series is derived from the Family Resources Survey which does not include Northern Ireland. The latest year for which data are available is 2000–01.
	2. The estimates are presented both for income Before Housing Costs (BHC) and for income After Housing Costs (AHC), in line with HBAI conventions. Households are assigned to income deciles according to their income including all benefits.
	3. All results are estimates, and may be affected by sampling error, reporting error and any differences between groups in their willingness to respond to the Family Resources Survey. Results are presented as percentages; estimates of total expenditure, by benefit, from this survey may not match actual expenditure.
	4. Housing and community charge/council tax benefit figures are total amounts paid to beneficiaries, irrespective of the source of funding. Therefore the figures include benefit spending reimbursed by DWP, spending on rent rebates financed within local authorities' Housing Revenue Accounts, benefit spending financed from local authorities' general funds, and benefit spending within the National Asylum Support Service budget.
	5. Retirement pension and MIG are shown together as the latter may be misreported as the former, in the Family Resources Survey.
	6. In accordance with HBAI methodology, no allowance has been made for any extra costs facing disabled people, when assigning their households to an income decile.

Child Benefit

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the proportion of child benefit decisions that were correct in the last five years; when he started setting targets on child benefit accuracy; and what the targets are.

Malcolm Wicks: Performance targets for benefit delivery and accuracy have been set for many years. The current Child Benefit Centre business plan includes an accuracy target of 98 per cent. for new claims.
	Payment accuracy figures for child benefit show a consistently high level of achievement by Child Benefit Centre.
	
		
			 Year Payment accuracy(30) 
		
		
			 1997–98(28) 99 
			 1998–99(28) 100 
			 1999–2000(29) 98 
			 2000–01(29) 98 
			 2001–02(29) 99 
		
	
	(28) Figures for 1997–99 reflect the finding of the Chief Adjudicator Officer, who was responsible for reporting on standards of decision making in the Department. Following introduction of new Decision-Making and Appeals (DMA) legislation in 1999, the function of the Chief Adjudication Officer ceased.
	(29) Child Benefit Centre findings.
	(30) Payment accuracy refers to the payment of the correct amount of benefit to the correct person.
	In addition, under DMA legislation, the Secretary of State now has a legal obligation to report on the standards of decision making in the Department for Work and Pensions. The Secretary of State's first DMA report was for the year 2000–01. He reported that 57 per cent. of child benefit decisions were correct. For child benefit, this report was concerned only with the decision making process, not with the outcome—accuracy of payment. It is quite possible for there to have been a technical error in the process but for the payment to be entirely correct. This applies with particular regard to evidence, in particular the retention of original documents required by the monitors when checking decisions made on review.
	Decisions resulting from such reviews were classed as errors regardless of whether the award itself is correct. Figures for 2001–02 have not yet been reported but indications are that around 77 per cent. of decisions were correct, again reflecting a DMA monitoring specification that concentrated on the process and not on the outcome—payment accuracy. For 2002–03, the DMA monitoring specification closely aligns the process and payment accuracy to give a more realistic indication of decision-making standards. Emerging findings indicate an accuracy level of 99.6 per cent. for 2002–03.

Child Support

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which areas are piloting the child support reforms IT system; and of those areas, which are testing cases calculated using the (a) existing rules and (b) new rules.

Malcolm Wicks: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Steven Webb, dated February 2003
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply from me.
	You ask which areas are piloting the child support reforms IT system; and of those areas which are testing cases calculated using the (a) existing rules and (b) new rules.
	All offices which process child maintenance applications now have access to the new IT system. It is being used to process a small proportion of cases on the basis of existing rules. No offices are directly involved in testing the application of the new rules.

Child Support

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many driving licences have been removed from non-resident parents for failure to pay child support to parents with care since this measure was introduced; and what the date was in each case.

Malcolm Wicks: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Andrew Selous, dated February 2003
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You ask how many driving licences have been removed from non-resident parents for failure to pay child support to parents with care since this measure was introduced; and what the date was in each case.
	There have been 2 non-resident parents who have been disqualified from driving for failure to pay child support. The intention of the relevant legislation is however to use the existence of this power to encourage more parents to meet this responsibility with out a court appearance. I believe that it is having this beneficial effect.

Child Support Agency (Scotland)

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases are being dealt with by the Child Support Agency; and how many cases were received in each of the last five years in (a) Scotland and (b) Fife.

Malcolm Wicks: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from D. Smith to Mr. J. MacDougall, dated February 2003
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You ask how many cases are being dealt with by the Child Support Agency; and how many cases were received in each of the last five years in (a) Scotland and (b) Fife.
	The number of cases currently being dealt with by the Child Support Agency is 1,349,213.
	I'm afraid I do not have precise numbers with relation to the amount of cases received in the last five years in Scotland and Fife. My best estimate is:
	
		
			 Year to 31 March Scotland Fife  
		
		
			 1999 43,000 1,400 
			 2000 32,500 850 
			 2001 31,000 800 
			 2002 31,000 500

Computer Misuse

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases of computer misuse there were in his Department in each of the last five years, broken down by each category of misuse; and how many of those cases resulted in disciplinary action.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department treats very seriously any suspicion of misuse of computer systems by staff and takes firm action in any cases that arise. All such cases, if proven, result in disciplinary action being taken against the offender leading to either a disciplinary penalty or dismissal. In addition over the last five years three members of staff have been prosecuted for computer misuse offences.
	The table provides details of the number of proven cases by category in each year. All these cases have resulted in disciplinary action being taken. Machinery of Government changes make year on year comparisons difficult.
	
		Computer misuse
		
			  Number of proven cases 
			 Category 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			  
			 Unauthorised access to computer systems 30 72 56 86 29 
			 Use of unauthorised software 0 8 3 5 3 
			 Manipulation of computer systems 0 7 0 14 2 
		
	
	1. The figures provided for 2002–03 cover the year to date and represent proven
	cases only. Several investigations are ongoing, but have not been included, as the
	results are not known yet.
	2. Only the figures for 2002–03 relate to the Department for Work and Pensions. Previous figures relate to the Department of Social Security.
	Definition of Categories
	Unauthorised access to computer systems
	This is generally where staff access records and there is no genuine business need to do so.
	Use of unauthorised software
	This includes the loading and use of non-departmental approved software onto departmental systems. This could include games or other programmes downloaded from the internet or brought in from home.
	Manipulation of computer systems
	Where the perpetrator has manipulated computer programmes or data dishonestly e.g. to alter or substitute records, to destroy or suppress records, or to duplicate or create spurious records.

Demography

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with European colleagues regarding a EU-wide approach to problems arising from changes in the average age of the population of Europe;
	(2)  what recent discussions he has had with European colleagues regarding pension reforms; and what issues were addressed and what conclusions were reached.

Malcolm Wicks: Whenever possible, we take the opportunity to exchange views with European Union counterparts on the challenges of ageing populations to employment strategy, social protection and social inclusion. The principal discussions in this area have been on the effect of demographic changes on the sustainability of pension systems where we regularly take the opportunity to exchange views with European Union counterparts on respective national approaches to pensions issues. The Lisbon European Council in March 2000 identified this as a significant issue in the context of its programme for economic reform. The United Kingdom has contributed to the voluntary exchange of information and good practice by member States within a framework of common objectives covering adequacy, financial sustainability and modernisation agreed during the Swedish Presidency of the EU.
	As part of this process the European Commission publiched a Draft Joint report on Adequate and Sustainable Pensions in December 2002 based on national contributions. The draft Joint Report is due for adoption at the Employment and Social Afairs and Ecofin Councils on 6 and 7 March 2003, prior to presentation to Heads of Government at the Spring Council.

Departmental Budget

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the increase in his Department's budget in each year since 1980–81, in real terms; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: The Department for Work and Pensions came into being on 1 April 2001. Consequently, there are no comparable figures prior to this date. The final provision for 2002–03 has yet to receive parliamentary approval and therefore a comparison with expenditure for 2001–02 cannot be made. The current expenditure plans of the Department for Work and Pensions are contained in Tables 1 to 11 of the Departmental Report, "The Government Expenditure Plans 2002–03 to 2003–04" (Command 5424).

Disability Living Allowance

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applicants for disability living allowance were (a) granted on first application and (b) successful on review in the Orkney and Shetland constituency in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: The number of disability living allowance claims which were (a) granted on first application and (b) successful on review in the Orkney and Shetland constituency in the last five years, is detailed in the table.
	
		Thousands
		
			  Granted on initial claim Granted on review 
		
		
			 1 September 2001–31 August 2002 (31)0.1 (32)— 
			 1 September 2000–31 August 2001 (31)0.1 (32)— 
			 1 September 1999–31 August 2000 (31)0.1 (32)— 
			 1 September 1998–31 August 1999 (31)0.1 (32)— 
			 1 September 1997–31 August 1998 (31)0.1 (31)0.1 
		
	
	(31) Figures are less than 500 and subject to a high degree of sampling variation and should only be used as a guide to the current situation.
	(32) Nil or negligible.
	Source:
	IAD information Centre, data taken from 5 per cent. sample.

Disability Living Allowance

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claim Disability Living Allowance in (a) Haltemprice and Howden, (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire and (c) England; and if he will break down the figures by disabling condition.

Maria Eagle: Entitlement to DLA is based on the extent to which a severely disabled person requires attention, supervision or watching over by another person and/or has walking difficulties as a result of their disabilities not on a particular diagnosis or condition.
	The information requested is contained in the following tables.
	
		Number of DLA recipients in the parliamentary constituency of Haltemprice and Howden by disabling condition as at 31 August 2002 -- Thousand
		
			 All 2.2 
		
		
			 Arthritis 0.5 
			 Muscle/Joint/Bone Disease (33)0.2 
			 Blindness (33)0.1 
			 Stroke-related (33)0.1 
			 Learning Difficulty (33)0.1 
			 Other mental health causes (33)0.1 
			 Epilepsy (33)0.1 
			 Malignant Disease (34)— 
			 Back ailments (33)0.2 
			 Heart Disease (33)0.1 
			 Parkinsons Disease (34)— 
			 Diabetes Mellitus (33)0.1 
			 Skin diseases (34)— 
			 Other 0.5 
		
	
	
		Number of DLA recipients in the East Riding of Yorkshire by disabling condition as at 31 August 2002 -- Thousand
		
			 All 12.2 
		
		
			 Arthritis 2.8 
			 Muscle/Joint/Bone Disease 0.9 
			 Blindness (33)0.3 
			 Stroke-related (33)0.4 
			 Learning Difficulty 1.3 
			 Other mental health causes 1.0 
			 Epilepsy (33)0.3 
			 Deafness (33)0.1 
			 Malignant Disease (33)0.3 
			 Chest Disease (33)0.3 
			 Back ailments 1.3 
			 Heart Disease 0.8 
			 Parkinsons Disease (33)0.1 
			 Diabetes Mellitus (33)0.2 
			 Renal disorders (34)— 
			 Skin diseases (33)0.1 
			 Other 19 
		
	
	
		Number of DLA recipients in England by disabling condition as at 31 August 2002 -- Thousand
		
			 All 1,924.7 
		
		
			 Arthritis 383.0 
			 Muscle/Joint/Bone Disease 154.4 
			 Blindness 49.9 
			 Stroke-related 77.7 
			 Learning Difficulty 196.7 
			 Other mental health causes 254.4 
			 Epilepsy 44.5 
			 Deafness 24.7 
			 Malignant Disease 45.2 
			 Chest Disease 63.0 
			 Back ailments 170.3 
			 Heart Disease 115.7 
			 Parkinsons Disease 11.5 
			 Diabetes Mellitus 37.4 
			
			 Renal disorders 8.9 
			 AIDS 6.3 
			 Skin diseases 11.0 
			 Other 270.1 
		
	
	(33) Figures are under 500 and therefore are subject to a high degree of sampling variation and should only be used as a guide to the current situation.
	(34) Nil or negligible
	Notes:
	1. Figures taken from a 5 per cent. sample at 31 August 2002.
	2. Figures are in thousands and rounded to the nearest hundred.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre

Government Information (Disabled People)

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to improve access to government information about disabled people for organisations in the voluntary sector which have been contracted to deliver (a) Workstep, (b) Job Broking and (c) other programmes under the New Deal for Disabled People.

Nick Brown: The Department's statistical publications provide a very wide range of information about disabled people. Arrangements are in place for making additional and more detailed results available on request, subject to restrictions of confidentiality and data quality.
	All personal information held in social security records is regarded as confidential, and will not normally be disclosed to third parties without the consent of the person concerned.
	We have no plans to change these arrangements.

Greater London Assembly

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what financial assistance his Department gave to the Greater London Assembly in 2002; and for what projects.

Nick Brown: The Department for Work and Pensions did not provide any financial assistance to the Greater London Assembly in 2002.

Health and Safety

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what advice Ministers have received from the Health and Safety Commission on the responsibility of company directors for health and safety, as referred to in the DETR document "Revitalising Health and Safety-a strategy statement", of June 2000; and what plans he has to introduce legislation to make this a statutory responsibility.

Nick Brown: The Government and the Health and Safety Commission are committed to encouraging boards of directors to take responsibility and provide leadership for ensuring that health and safety is properly managed.
	The Health and Safety Commission published guidance in July 2001, "Directors' responsibilities for health and safety". The guidance has attracted considerable interest among private, public and voluntary sector organisations.
	The HSC is carrying out research to evaluate the effectiveness of the guidance in helping to promote greater board responsibility for health and safety. Preliminary findings reveal that the Government and HSC strategy together with a number of other factors are encouraging boards to take a greater interest and responsibility for health and safety. HSC has undertaken to report to Ministers in summer 2003 on the effectiveness of this strategy, the success of the voluntary approach and the need for further legislation.

Incapacity Benefit

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many successful new claims for Incapacity Benefit and its predecessor benefits were made by (a) men and (b) women in each of the last 25 years;
	(2)  how many new claims for Incapacity Benefit and its predecessor benefits were refused because of inadequate contribution records for (a) men and (b) women in each of the last 25 years.

Nick Brown: The available information is in the tables.
	The following table shows the IB disallowed at onset figures due to failing the contribution conditions, as a percentage of all new claims.
	
		
			  New claims to IB New claims to IB disallowed at onset Disallowed claims as a proportion of total new claims to IR (%) 
		
		
			 13 April 1995 to 31 March 1996 1,054,340 382,445 36.3 
			 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997 1,062,815 439,645 41.4 
			 1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998 1,012,980 435,095 43.0 
			 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999 930,000 398,605 42.9 
			 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000 907,595 393,585 43.4 
			 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001 873,490 374,640 42.9 
			 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 823,650 350,890 42.6 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Disallowed at onset figures may still result in an award of IB credits.
	2. CDU new claims figures may not result in an award of benefit or credits, as they
	include "accident declarations" etc.
	3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest five.
	4. Figures are not collected by gender.
	Sources:
	1. Figures for claims disallowed at onset (due to failing the contribution conditions) are 100 per cent. counts of the Incapacity Benefit computer system.
	2. Figures for new claims to Incapacity Benefit are from DWP Central Data Unit, 100 per cent. counts of all claims received.
	
		Sickness Benefit, Invalidity Benefit and Incapacity Benefit new claims by gender
		
			 Period Total Men Women 
		
		
			 7 June 1976 to 4 June 1977 9,182,000 6,691,000 2,491,000 
			 6 June 1977 to 3 June 1978 9,982,000 7,131,000 2,851,000 
			 5 June 1978 to 2 June 1979 10,490,000 7,279,000 3,210,000 
			 4 June 1979 to 31 May 1980 9,208,000 6,165,000 3,043,000 
			
			 2 June 1980 to 30 May 1981 7,465,000 4,872,000 2,593,000 
			 1 June 1981 to 29 May 1982 6,981,000 4,454,000 2,527,000 
			 5 April 1982 to 2 April 1983 5,813,000 3,665,000 2,149,000 
			 4 April 1983 to 31 March 1984 1,141,000 794,000 347,000 
			 2 April 1984 to 30 March 1985 1,094,000 758,000 336,000 
			 1 April 1985 to 5 April 1986 1,137,000 778,000 359,000 
			 7 April 1986 to 4 April 1987 737,000 506,000 231,000 
			 6 April 1987 to 2 April 1988 810,000 518,000 292,000 
			 4 April 1988 to 1 April 1989 805,000 509,000 296,000 
			 3 April 1989 to 31 March 1990 839,000 540,000 299,000 
			 2 April 1990 to 30 March 1991 850,000 562,000 288,000 
			 1 April 1991 to 4 April 1992 926,000 617,000 309,000 
			 6 April 1992 to 3 April 1993 918,000 606,000 312,000 
			 5 April 1993 to 2 April 1994 904,000 588,000 315,000 
			 4 April 1994 to 12 April 1995 978,000 635,000 343,000 
			 1 March 1995 to 29 February 1996 874,000 565,000 308,000 
			 1 March 1996 to 28 February 1997 836,000 540,000 296,000 
			 1 March 1997 to 28 February 1998 804,000 511,000 293,000 
			 1 March 1998 to 28 February 1999 740,000 457,000 283,000 
			 1 March 1999 to 29 February 2000 688,000 434,000 254,000 
			 1 March 2000 to 28 February 2001 690,000 436,000 255,000 
			 1 March 2001 to 28 February 2002 642,000 403,000 239,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. From September 1980, spells of less than four days ceased to be classed as a claim to benefit except under certain circumstances.
	2. Statutory Sick Pay was introduced on 6 April 1983 for the first eight weeks of illness, this was extended to the first 28 weeks of illness from 6 April 1986.
	3. Incapacity Benefit replaced Sickness Benefit and Invalidity Benefit from 13 April 1995.
	4. Figures include 'Credits Only' cases.
	5. Figures include claims that have subject to linking. Linking provisions exist to protect people who qualified for Incapacity Benefit under their previous contribution conditions where they move into work and return to benefit within the linking period.
	6. Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.
	Sources:
	1. 2 per cent. sample of the Sickness Benefit and Invalidity Benefit caseload to 1977–78.
	2. 1 per cent. sample of the Sickness Benefit and Invalidity Benefit caseload to 1995.
	3. From April 1995 a 5 per cent. extract from the Incapacity Benefit computer system, which excludes a small number of cases held clerically.
	Notes:
	1. Figures are not collected by gender.
	2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest five.
	Source:
	100 per cent. count of the Incapacity Benefit computer system.

Independent Schools (Health and Safety)

John Burnett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps are taken to ensure that asbestos surveys are carried out by experts and that their safety guidance is found in independent schools.

Nick Brown: The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002, which have recently been made, will from 21 May 2004, place a new duty on those who manage asbestos in non-domestic premises. This includes independent schools. It requires them: to assess whether those premises contain asbestos; to assess the risk from asbestos; and to take action to manage the risk from asbestos. The duty does not specifically require a survey. However, if duty holders decide, as part of their assessment and management process, that a survey is necessary, and that they need independent expertise, the Health and Safety Executive publishes guidance on verifying the competence of a surveyor.
	Although the specific duty to manage regulation does not come into force until 21 May 2004, employers have, for many years, had a general duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to protect employees and others from the risks posed by asbestos.

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the estimated cost is of a case-law change exercise in (a) correcting Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit records and (b) notifying claimants; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: The information is not available. The cost of correcting Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit records following a change in the interpretation of the law by a Social Security Commissioner or the courts can vary greatly depending on the nature of the change and the number of people affected by the change.

Maternal Support

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the financial support available to women with children under 3 years.

Malcolm Wicks: Women with children under three are entitled to Child Benefit provided they are the main carer. In addition, there is a wide range of benefits available to women with children under three, depending on their individual circumstances.

New Deal

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people on the (a) New Deal for Young People and (b) the New Deal for 25 Plus have had their jobseeker's allowance reduced in each year by (a) two weeks, (b) four weeks, and (c) 26 weeks; and whether anyone has suffered more than one 26 week sanction.

Nick Brown: holding answer 23 January 2003
	The information requested is not available. We only record the total number of sanctions imposed, not the number of people sanctioned.
	A breakdown of the length of sanctions imposed is not available, as the data requires further work to improve its validity and reliability. Officials have begun work to provide more detailed and robust information on the sanction regime in the future.

New Deal for Disabled People

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disabled people found jobs through the New Deal for Disabled People in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 in (i) Scotland and (ii) Fife; how many of these people are still in employment; and what plans he has to review the effectiveness of the service.

Nick Brown: New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP) is the first national programme designed specifically to help people with health conditions and disabilities move into and keep jobs. A comprehensive programme of evaluation is in place to assess its effectiveness. Reports on different elements of the evaluation will be published between early 2003 and 2004; a series of synthesis reports will bring together the available evidence at various points during the evaluation programme.
	After a slow start, the performance of job brokers in Scotland has improved significantly. In support of this, a recent exercise was conducted to increase coverage and 20 organisations are now involved with the delivery of NDDP in Scotland, ensuring greater choice and availability to customers. In the financial year to April 2002, there were 44 authorised job entries in Scotland. By the end of November'2002, this figure had increased to 479 (a percentage increase of 91 per cent.). The available information is in the table.
	
		NDDP performance in Scotland
		
			  July 2001 to December 2001 January 2002 to November 2002 Total 
		
		
			 Numbers entering employment 29 595 624 
			 Numbers sustaining employment n/a 61 61 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Information is not available broken down by local authority or Government office region.
	2. Data for sustained employment (defined as remaining in paid work for 26 weeks out of a 39-week period) was not collected until January 2002.

Parliamentary Questions

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the Speaker's Statement of 20 November 2002, Official Report, column 645, whether he has reviewed his Department's handling of parliamentary questions; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: I have, with my Permanent Secretary, reviewed arrangements for handling parliamentary questions. During the last session we answered around 4,000 questions, and although there can be no absolute safeguard against error, we are satisfied that we have robust arrangements in place to ensure we discharge our obligations to Parliament.

Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the cost of raising the basic state pension to the level of the minimum income guarantee; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: If the maximum rate payable of the basic state pension was increased to the level of the minimum income guarantee and all other payments increased proportionately, we estimate that this would cost in the region of £8.3 billion in 2003–04.
	Under this proposal the poorest pensioners are no better off. The increase in the basic state pension is completely offset by a withdrawal of income related benefits. The biggest gainers are better off pensioners.
	Notes:
	1. Figures are in 2002–03 price terms, rounded to the nearest £100 million.
	2. The estimate takes into account offsetting savings in income related benefits. Income related benefit offsets are calculated using the DWP Policy Simulation Model 2003–04.
	3. For modelling purposes, Pension Credit is assumed to be in place throughout 2003–04. In fact, Pension Credit will begin in October 2003.

Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the annual cost of increasing the basic state pension by the rate of average earnings growth for each of the next 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: The information requested is set out in the table.
	As a result of measures introduced since 1997, virtually all pensioner households are better off than they would have been with an earnings link in the basic state pension.
	This year the Government are spending an extra £6 billion in real terms on pensioners as a result of policies introduced since 1997. This includes £2.5 billion more on the poorest third of pensioners. This is three times more than an earnings link since 1998 would have given them.
	
		Estimated cost of increasing the basic state pension by average earnings from April 2003 -- £
		
			 Year Cost 
		
		
			 2003–04 340 million 
			 2004–05 900 million 
			 2005–06 1.4 billion 
			 2006–07 1.9 billion 
			 2007–08 2.5 billion 
			 2008–09 3.1 billion 
			 2009–10 3.7 billion 
			 2010–11 4.4 billion 
			 2011–12 5 billion 
			 2012–13 5.7 billion 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are in 2002–03 price terms rounded to the nearest £100 million, except 2003–04 which is rounded to the nearest £10 million.
	2. The estimates take into account offsetting savings in income-related benefits. Income-related benefit offsets are calculated using the DWP policy simulation model.
	3. The maximum rate payable of the basic state pension is assumed to increase by average earnings and all other payments proportionately.
	4. Average earnings assumptions are consistent with the pre-Budget report assumptions.

Pensions

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost of increasing the basic state pension to the level of the minimum income guarantee for those (a) 75 and above and (b) above 80, net of savings in means-tested benefits and additional income tax revenue.

Ian McCartney: Increasing the basic state pension for older pensioners would not target resources on those who are most in need. While it is true that older pensioners tend to be poorer on average, income inequality is far more pronounced across the whole pensioner population than between pensioners of different ages. For example, the median net income of the richest fifth of pensioner couples is around four times that of the poorest fifth.
	If the basic state pension was increased to the level of the minimum income guarantee for pensioners aged 75 and over in 2003–04, we estimate that the increase in public expenditure could be around £2.9 billion. This is calculated on the generous assumption that consequent savings in other benefits and any additional tax yield are channelled back into the basic state pension.
	If the basic state pension were increased to the level of the minimum income guarantee for pensioners aged 80 and over in 2003–04, we estimate that the increase in public expenditure could be around £1.7 billion. This is calculated on the generous assumption that consequent savings in other benefits and any additional tax yield are channelled back into the basic state pension.
	Notes:
	1. Estimates are in cash terms for Great Britain and are rounded to the nearest £100 million.
	2. The estimate takes account of offsetting savings in income related benefits and additional tax yield. Income-related benefit offsets are calculated using the Department for Work and Pensions Policy Simulation Model for 2003–04. Additional tax yield is calculated by the Inland Revenue based upon the Survey of Personal Incomes 2000–01, projected to 2003–04.
	3. Calculations assume the maximum rate payable of the basic state pension is increased to the level of the minimum income guarantee and all other payments proportionately.
	4. For modelling purposes, pension credit is assumed to be in place throughout 2003–04. In fact, pension credit will begin in October 2003.
	5. For modelling purposes we have assumed that the savings reward threshold remains unchanged.
	Source:
	Department for Work and Pensions calculations.

Benefit Fraud Hotline

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many calls the National Benefit Fraud Hotline received in each month since January 1997;
	(2)  how many calls were made to the National Benefit Fraud Hotline in each year since 1997.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is in the table.
	
		Calls received by the National Benefit Fraud Hotline, January 1997-December 2002
		
			 Month 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 January 17,981 17,206 13,925 14,272 17,340 18,621 
			 February 27,075 15,780 13,798 19,285 18,191 15,871 
			 March 27,073 15,345 16,901 23,118 28,093 18,199 
			 April 18,563 19,007 11,996 12,815 17,261 16,403 
			 May 19,272 13,149 11,303 21,674 18,461 17,355 
			 June 16,272 13,692 13,415 18,212 14,086 12,987 
			 July 18,808 15,512 10,491 17,440 13,360 16,675 
			 August 14,755 11,104 10,336 20,289 14,503 11,985 
			 September 16,236 13,694 12,971 15,851 25,001 13,511 
			 October 13,202 12,805 9,291 13,980 21,363 14,280 
			 November 11,770 14,285 14,683 15,243 19,535 11,578 
			 December 10,829 12,160 10,906 9,073 9,738 7,781 
			 Total 211,836 179,736 156,014 207,251 222,932 181,247 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures include calls received by the Call Centre Bureau, which since May 2000 has been contracted to answer calls outside normal working hours when the main hotline unit is closed.
	Source:
	National Benefit Fraud Hotline

Tobacco Smoke

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what percentage of workers reported that their workplace was smoke-free in 2001;
	(2)  how many workers in England and Wales have been exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke in the workplace (a) regularly and (b) occasionally in each year since 1997.

Nick Brown: The Department does not hold data on worker exposure to tobacco smoke in the way requested. In a 2001 survey on smoking behaviour and attitudes undertaken by the Office for National Statistics, 47 per cent. of the workers questioned said that there was a ban on smoking in their workplace. This survey also revealed that 38 per cent. of workers had smoking restricted to designated areas in their workplace, and 6 per cent. of workers worked alone. Nine per cent. of workers in this survey reported that there were no smoking restrictions at all in their workplace.

Top-up Fees

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the likely effect of the proposed introduction of university top-up fees on the pension contributions of those under 40 years of age.

Ian McCartney: Student loans are repaid on an income contingent basis, which means that the amount repaid is affordable and does not prevent graduates from making other investments such as contributions to pension schemes.
	We are committed to encouraging people to consider their pension saving options early. Each person needs to decide where the balance between current and future needs lies for them. There will be times in many people's lives when they cannot afford both to contribute to a pension and meet their current needs, but it is important that people save when they can afford to do so. That is why the Green Paper "Simplicity, security and choice: working and saving for retirement" (Cm 5677), published on 17 December 2002, sets out the Government's proposals to work with employers and the financial services industry to provide:
	A simple framework to help people understand their choices:
	Financial education and awareness to navigate the system, including access to generic financial advice for the mass market;
	Personalised information tailored to individual circumstances, so people can make rational choices and a choice of suitable products.
	In addition, the Sandler review recommended a suite of tightly regulated products, including a pension product that could be sold through a simplified sales process.
	On 5 February 2003, the Government issued a consultation document on the design specification for these products.

Windfall Tax

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what sources of funding will be used after the 2003–04 financial year to continue projects that have been funded by the Windfall Tax.

Nick Brown: The continuing funding for the welfare-to-work initiatives, previously funded by the Windfall Tax, formed part of the 2002 Spending Review settlement for the Department for Work and Pensions.

Workplace Health and Safety

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 7 January, Official Report, column 10W, on workplace health and safety, on what basis the Department for Work and Pensions was able to set public service agreement targets on health and safety.

Nick Brown: The Department's PSA targets for improving workplace health and safety are made up of the intermediate targets agreed by the Government and Health and Safety Commission (HSC) in 2000, as part of the Revitalising Health and Safety strategy. These require the Health and Safety Commission and Executive (HSC/E) by 2004 to achieve:
	A 5 per cent. reduction of the incidence rate of fatal and major injury accidents;
	A 15 per cent. reduction of the number of working days lost per 100,000 workers from work related injury and ill health; and
	A 10 per cent. reduction of the incidence rate of cases of work-related health.
	In developing the targets, HSE took account of responses to an earlier public consultation on development of a national occupational health strategy (Securing Health Together), forecast changes in the labour market and HSC's experience in developing outcome targets for certain industry sectors.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Brownfield Sites

Llew Smith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact of the requirements of the water framework directive upon the cost of clean-up of brownfield land for re-use in his sustainable communities plan.

Tony McNulty: The Government do not consider that there will necessarily be any impact on the clean-up costs of previously developed land arising from the water framework directive. The standard for clean-up under both the contaminated land provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the planning system is the removal of unacceptable risk, so as to make a site suitable for its existing and future uses respectively. This will ensure that all receptors of potential discharges from a site are protected, including humans, surface and groundwater, flora, fauna and buildings. This approach is already advised in draft planning technical advice for England, which was issued for consultation in February 2002 and which will be finalised later this year. The Government consider that this approach will be consistent with the requirements of the water framework directive as regards water quality.

Broxtowe Local Plan

Graham Allen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects the Broxtowe Local Plan Inspectors' report to be available.

Tony McNulty: Although Broxtowe Borough Council did not enter into a Service Agreement with the Planning Inspectorate for the delivery of the report, the provisions of the standard Service Agreement are deemed to apply. On that basis, the delivery of the Inspector's report is promised no later than Thursday 25 September 2003.

Capital Projects

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place the evaluations for Capital Modernisation Fund projects in his Department since 1998 in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: An evaluation report on the development of the Planning Inspectorate's Planning Portal Programme, which was part funded by the Capital Modernisation Fund and which formally closed in October 2002, is being prepared. It will be placed in the Library of both Houses shortly.
	This is the only Modernisation Fund project within the remit of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister which has been completed.

Disabled Facilities Grants

Diana Organ: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which district and city councils in Gloucestershire have awarded Disabled Facilities Grants; and how much was spent by each in each year since 1998.

Tony McNulty: Records indicate that the total eligible expenditure on Disabled Facilities Grants by the six Gloucestershire local housing authorities since 1998–99 is as follows:
	
		£000
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Cheltenham 372 326 331 320 
			 Cotswold 269 311 523 260 
			 Forest of Dean 231 171 198 218 
			 Gloucester 365 519 488 268 
			 Stroud 208 175 180 173 
			 Tewkesbury 232 240 300 247 
		
	
	Source:
	2002 HIP Housing Strategy Statistical Index

Domestic Violence

Margaret Moran: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library the data on local authority performance provided to the Audit Commission on the extent of domestic violence refuge provision in 2001–02.

Tony McNulty: Information on local authority performance for 2001–02, including data on the number of domestic violence refuge places provided or supported by local authorities, was placed in the Library of the House in December 2002.

Havering Borough

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what plans he has to visit the London Borough of Havering;
	(2)  what discussions he had during January 2003 with representatives of the London Borough of Havering regarding the grant settlement for 2003–04; and if he will review the level of grant.

Nick Raynsford: My hon. Friend the Member for Shipley met with a delegation representing the London Borough of Havering on Thursday 8 January 2003 to discuss the provisional localgovernment finance settlement for 2003–2004. Three written representations were also received from Havering during consultation on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's proposals. These representations have been carefully considered alongside all others, as the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister took final decisions on the settlement.
	Parliament has now approved the settlement which provides an increase in formula grant of £2.25 billion or 5.9 per cent. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has ensured that all local authorities receive a grant increase on a like for like basis which is at least greater than inflation. The London Borough of Havering has benefited from this guarantee. It will receive £154.4 million in general grant in 2003–04, which is an increase of £5.2 million.
	There are currently no plans for my right hon. Friend Deputy Prime Minister to visit the London Borough of Havering. I myself visited the London Borough of Havering on September 2002.

Lionheart Industrial Estate, Alnwick

Alan Beith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will call in the planning application by Northumberland County Council for a waste transfer station on the Lionheart Industrial Estate, Alnwick.

Tony McNulty: Northumberland County Council, as waste planning authority, granted itself planning permission subject to a number of conditions on 5 February 2003, for the construction of a waste transfer station and household waste recovery centre at the Lionheart Enterprise Park, Alnwick.
	Prior to that decision, my right hon. Friend, the Deputy Prime Minister, received representations which included a request for him to call-in the planning application. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister concluded that there was not sufficient conflict in this case with national policies or any other sufficient reason to warrant call-in of the application.
	A copy of the non-intervention letter giving the reasons for this decision will shortly be placed on The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's web-site at http://www.planning.odpm.gov.uk/callins/index.htm. However, officials will forward a copy to the right hon. Member.

Local Government Finance

Harry Cohen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what purposes he has held back part of the local government grant settlement; and if he will make a statement

Nick Raynsford: None of the grant to be distributed by the 2003–04 local government finance settlement will be held back. Each local authority and specified body will get the grant allocation agreed by Parliament on the 5 of February, unless Parliament agrees an amending report at a later date.

Local Government Recruitment

Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what action he is taking to increase (a) graduate recruits, (b) recruits from the private sector and (c) recruits from the voluntary sector into the senior management of local government; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: Recruitment and retention is a key part of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's capacity building programme for local government. Both the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the LGA have committed additional funds to expand the work of the local government specified bodies as part of this programme. As a direct result, the Employers Organisation (EO) is to increase the number of students on their National Graduate Recruitment and Development Programme in 2003–04.
	As well as recruitment, it is equally important that local government employees get the support to encourage them to stay. In collaboration with Warwick University, the EO will run a number of support programmes for aspiring middle and senior managers. A new accelerated development programme based on the Civil Service's "Fast Stream" scheme will provide support to staff aiming for senior management positions through the key stages of their career. In addition, the Improvement and Development Agency's (IDeA) has developed an Advanced Leadership Programme to develop the skills of aspiring senior managers in local government.
	These initiatives, along with the wider modernisation agenda, will improve the image of local government. This will make it a more attractive option for people from all areas, including the voluntary and private sector, with whom authorities already work in partnership.

North West Regional Assembly

George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what central Government funding the North West Regional Assembly received in each year from 1998 to 2003.

Nick Raynsford: The North West Regional Assembly first received Government funding in 2000, when they were appointed as the Regional Planning Body for the North West. Funding is currently channelled through top tier local authorities. The Regional Assemblies Preparation Bill, currently before Parliament, contains provision that would enable the money to be paid directly to the Assembly. The amounts involved are as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2000–01 800,000 
			 2001–02 850,000 
			 2002–03 840,000 
		
	
	In the Spending Review 2000, the Government announced that they would make £15 million available to all the Regional Assemblies over a three year period (2001–04), to enable them to carry out their scrutiny of the Regional Development Agencies, to co-ordinate regional strategies and to undertake other activity to benefit the region. The NWRA's share of this is as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2001–02 500,000 
			 2002–03 600,000 
			 2003–04 600,000

Planning Enforcement

Mike Wood: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to publish a response to the consultation exercise on the effectiveness of planning enforcement; and what process will follow.

Tony McNulty: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently considering the 482 responses received to the "Review of the Planning Enforcement System in England" consultation paper. We will be making an announcement on our conclusions and how we intend to take them forward as soon as possible.

Rough Sleepers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what methodology is used to count the number of rough sleepers; when the last count took place; and how many rough sleepers there were in (a) Portsmouth, (b) Southampton and (c) Fareham at that date.

Barbara Roche: Guidance was first published in 1996 on counting methodology developed in partnership with charities and voluntary organisations helping people sleeping rough. Independent evaluation has confirmed that the methodology remains the most robust method for measuring relative levels of rough sleeping and of change over time.
	Local authorities are responsible for ensuring that the counts are undertaken and that the methodology is followed. The snapshot counts should take place on a single night, between 12 am and 6 am. The definition of people who should be included in rough sleeper counts is clearly set out in the guidance. It is: people sleeping, or bedded down, in the open air (such as on the streets, or in doorways, parks or bus shelters); people in buildings or other places not designed for habitation (such as barns, sheds, car parks, cars, derelict boats, or stations). Guidance is also given on the appropriate timing of rough sleeper counts—which will depend on the level of rough sleeping reported and on local circumstances.
	Portsmouth last carried out a count in May 2002 and found one rough sleeper; Southampton last carried out a count in November 2001 and found six rough sleepers; and Fareham last carried out a count in February 1998 and found 13 rough sleepers. Since 1998, Fareham has reduced its numbers of rough sleepers and in the Housing Investment Programme return, July 2002, returned an estimate of 0–10.

Sustainable Communities (North-East)

Vera Baird: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will announce a housing market renewal pathfinder project in the Tees Valley.

Tony McNulty: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is promoting a new, long-term approach to tackling housing low demand and abandonment. Nine pathfinders have been identified, focused on the areas most acutely affected. Although we are not seeking to establish further pathfinders at this time, in our action programme, "Sustainable Communities: building for the future", we explained that we would use the lessons learned from the pathfinders to help all areas with declining demand to tackle the problems better.

Waste Disposal

Harry Cohen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will establish a special fund for the allocation of resources to the most affected local authorities for dealing with fly tipping, tyres, obsolete refrigerators and abandoned cars; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government do not have any plans to establish a fund specifically targeted at local authorities most affected by fly tipping of tyres, since this would be against the polluter pays principle and may create a perverse incentive for people to fly tip tyres safe in the knowledge that the public purse will fund any clearance. However, the Environment Agency has set up the Tyre Watch campaign to help tackle the problem of fly tipped tyres and to support a sustainable recovery and disposal system. The DTI is also exploring alternative routes for disposing of tyres, given the forthcoming ban from disposal to landfill under the Landfill Directive.
	We have provided additional finance of £46 million to local authorities to cover their costs of disposing of refrigerators. Also, interim funding has been agreed for local authorities to help with the implementation of the End of Life Vehicles Directive, which may lead to an increase in levels of abandoned cars. The DTI will meet the additional costs and have secured three years funding (£25 million for 2003–04, 2004–05 and 2005–06) which was agreed in Spending Review 2002.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Lay Magistrates

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many lay magistrates there were in 1997; and what the most recent figure is.

Yvette Cooper: On 31 December 1997, our records showed that there were 26,018 magistrates in England and Wales excluding the Duchy of Lancaster (where the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is responsible for appointments). On 1 April 2002, there were 24,526 1 . However, the figures are not comparable because all records were re-validated in 2001 when a computer database was introduced and it became apparent that the previous figures had been inaccurate.
	1 Record-keeping changed to financial years in 2000–01.

Civil and Family Courts

Annette Brooke: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when she will launch the consultation on "Modernising the Civil and Family Courts".

Yvette Cooper: Consultation on "Modernising the Civil Courts", (which sets out the vision for civil and family business) took place between January and April 2001. A subsequent report entitled "Modernising the Civil and Family Courts" was published in May 2002. This report was a response to those who responded to the earlier consultation paper and also outlined the progress made.

Civil and Family Courts

Annette Brooke: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (a) when and (b) how the local consultation in Dorset on modernising the civil and family courts will take place.

Yvette Cooper: Consultation on Modernising the Civil Courts, (which sets out the vision for civil and family business) took place between January and April 2001. A subsequent report entitled 'Modernising the Civil and Family Courts' was published in May 2002. This report was a response to those who responded to the Modernising the Civil Courts Consultation paper and outlined the progress made during that year.
	My Department also plans to consult specifically on the proposed model of the estate set out in the May report. No timetable has yet been set, but the consultation document will be tailored specifically to the needs of local communities. The views of all those with an interest in the future status of civil justice in Dorset will therefore be canvassed. This will include Members of Parliament.

Departmental Consultations

Tim Yeo: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list consultations the Department has conducted since 1997; and when each consultation (a) opened and (b) closed.

Rosie Winterton: The Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultation applies to all formal written national public consultation documents issued by Departments from 1 January 2001 and the information requested is not available before that date. Listed as follows are the LCD Consultation Papers.
	
		
			 Name of Consultation Paper Opening date Closing date 
		
		
			 Representative Claims—proposed new procedures 1 February 2001 1 May 2001 
			 Community Legal Service—Financial Conditions for Funding by the Legal Services Commission 12 March 2001 1 May 2001 
			 Pre-Action Protocol for Judicial Review 15 March 2001 7 June 2001 
			 E-conveyancing—A draft order under section 8 of the Electronic Communications Act 2000 19 March 2001 25 June 2001 
			 Distress for Rent 8 May 2001 3 August 2001 
			 Report of the Review Group on the Royal Peculiars 18 July 2001 1 October 2001 
			 Enforcement Review Green Paper 19 July 2001 12 October 2001 
			 The Administrative Court: Proposed changes to Primary Legislation following Sir Jeffrey Bowman's Review of the Crown Office List 31 July 2001 23 October 2001 
			 Payments into Court in Satisfaction of Claims 16 August 2001 12 November 2001 
			 Report of the Review Tribunals by Sir Andrew Leggatt 16 August 2001 30 November 2001 
			 General Pre-Action Protocol 12 October 2001 31 January 2002 
			 The House of Lords—Completing the Reform 7 November 2001 31 January 2002 
			 Payments to Witnesses 5 March 2002 31 May 2002 
			 Damages for Future Loss: Giving the Courts the Power to Order Periodical Payments for Future Loss and the Care Costs in Personal Injury Cases 13 March 2002 7 June 2002 
			 Electoral Registers—Access Supply and Sale 13 March 2002 13 June 2002 
			 Freezing Injunctions and Search Orders in Civil Proceedings 21 March 2002 12 June 2002 
			 Promoting Inter Agency Working in the Family Justice System 27 March 2002 5 July 2002 
			 Selection Procedures for the Circuit Bench and Recordership 8 April 2002 5 July 2002 
			 Making Decisions: Helping people who have difficulty deciding for themselves 10 April 2002 9 July 2002 
			 'In the Public Interest'—Matters arising for the Government from the OFT report on Competition in the Professions 31 July 2002 22 November 2002 
			 Third Parties—Rights Against Insurers 6 September 2002 29 November 2002 
			 The Rule Against Excessive Accumulations 6 September 2002 29 November 2002 
			 Execution of Deeds and Documents 9 September 2002 29 November 2002 
			 Commonhold Proposals for Commonhold Regulations 7 October 2002 6 January 2003

Independent Appellate Authority

David Lidington: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Independent Appellate Authority notified the Home Office of its decision to reject the Home Office's appeal to the tribunal in the case of Mrs. T. B. (TH/22817/2001; B1010649).

Rosie Winterton: Notification that Leave to Appeal to the tribunal had been refused was sent to the Home Office on 27 November 2002.

Libra Project

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the costs of her Department's Libra project are (a) as originally estimated and (b) as currently predicted.

Yvette Cooper: I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Online Sales/Purchases

Tim Yeo: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what (a) products, (b) goods and (c) services were (i) bought and (ii) sold online by her Department in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: My Department launched Money Claim Online on 4 February 2002. This service enables users to make claims online to recover money owed to them. Up to 28 January 2003, 16,659 claims had been issued using this service.
	We do not currently purchase or offer other goods or services online. However, we intend to commence pilot projects for the procurement online of forms, stationery and rail tickets in the near future.

Special Advisers/Press Officers

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many (a) special advisers and (b) press officers were employed (i) full-time, (ii) part-time and (iii) on a contract basis by her Department in (A) 2001–02 and (B) 2002–03.

Rosie Winterton: I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Timber

Joan Walley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which companies supply timber and timber products to his Department.

Rosie Winterton: The major supplies of timber to my Department are for furniture, and the suppliers are with the following Office for Government Commerce contracts: Senator International, Interiors, Godfrey Syrett Ltd. and Fray Design Ltd.

Vehicle Fleets

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress has been made, by (a) volume and (b) percentage for each category of (i) vehicle, (ii) type of power unit and (iii) type of fuel, on an annual basis, over each of the past three years, in renewal of his Department's and agencies' vehicle fleet on a lower emission basis.

Rosie Winterton: My Department does not hold information relating to the improvement in vehicle emission standards of its fleet over the past three years. However, we will do so in the future as part of our approach to the Sustainable Development Plan.

Vehicle Fleets

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the annual rate is at which his Department has renewed its vehicle fleet, by (a) volume and (b) percentage for each category of (i) vehicle, (ii) type of power unit and (iii) type of fuel over the last three years.

Rosie Winterton: My Department purchased 52 replacement cars in 2000, 31 in 2001 and 235 cars in 2002. Details are provided in the table. In future we will only lease duel fuel vehicles and they will be replaced every four years.
	
		
			  2000 2001 2002 
			 Cars Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Petrol 0 0 0 1 1 0.5 
			 Diesel 49 94 30 97 233 99 
			 LPG 3 6 1 3 1 0.5 
			 Total 52 100 31 100 235 100

Witnesses

Tim Loughton: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many court cases failed to take place in (a) 1997–98 and (b) 2002–03 because (i) the accused and (ii) witnesses failed to turn up; and what action he has taken to combat failure of court cases because of non-attendance of parties.

Yvette Cooper: In 1997–98 56,116 cases were listed for trial in the Crown Court of which 1,967 (3.50 per cent.) failed to take place due to the accused, and 3,848 (6.85 per cent.) due to the witness(es), failing to attend.
	Between April and September 2002 (the most recent data currently available) 27,427 cases were listed for trial in the Crown Court. 1,024 (3.73 per cent.) failed to take place due to the accused, and 1,717 (6.26 per cent.) due to the witness(es), failing to attend. Data on why cases fail has only been collected nationally by magistrates' courts from 1 April 2002.
	For the six month period April to September 2002 81,437 trials were listed for trial in the magistrates' court, of which 6,780 (8.32 per cent.) failed to take place due to the accused, and 2,875 (3.53 per cent.) due to the witness(es), failing to attend.
	Action is being taken across Criminal Justice Agencies to reduce the failure of court cases due to non attendance of witnesses, in particular the use of video links for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses, and the introduction of Victim Support into all courts.
	My Department is currently undertaking a Case Preparation Project with CIS partners which includes work on identifying reasons why defendants and witnesses fail to turn up for hearings

Youth Court Cases

Tim Loughton: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many youth court cases in 2002–03 have had to be abandoned because the accused and witnesses failed to turn up.

Yvette Cooper: 81,437 trials were listed in the magistrates courts during the period April 2002 to September 2002, of which 2,875 (3.53 per cent.) did not continue due to the absence or withdrawal of a witness. 6,780 trials (8.32 per cent.) became ineffective due to the absence of the defendant. It is not possible to break down these figures into those relating specifically to youth cases.
	My Department is currently undertaking a Case Preparation Project with CJS partners, which includes work on identifying reasons why defendants and witnesses fail to turn up for hearings.